The Hastings Standard Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897. THE MILITARY CONTINGENT.

Hastings Standard, Issue 291, 7 April 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1897. THE MILITARY CONTINGENT.

For the cause that lacks assistance," For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The preliminary expenses in connection with the despatch to London of a mixed—very much mixed—military contingent have been incurred as though Parliament had voted the money. We have from the first insisted that the proposals of the Government in this matter were lavish, and that a small contingent of say thirty mounted men was all that was needed. We must be on a level with the sister colonies, but we must avoid all ostentatious display bor3ering on the offensive. It is very apparent that Mr Seddon expects keen opposition to his military proposals, hence the fact that the matter is to be an open one for members to deal with free from party considerations. The opposition to this Jingoistic display will, we think, be found to be most vigorous from the benches usually found supporting the Government . Nor will the opposition be less keen and spirited because of the modest estimate at which the Premier places the expenses. Mr Seddon was good enough to tell Messrs Hutcheson and Fisher, who waited upon him the other day with respect to an Easter encampment, that the cost of the military contingent would not exceed £'3ooo. The amount seems ridiculously small, and we believe that it represents merly the passage money of the men. There are other items, such as uniforms and training expenses, to be added. Even if we accept the Premier's estimate as correct, we must still object to the expedition, on the ground that it is improper that the men should be asked to serve the country for three or four months without any remuneration. Besides, we do not believe that the whole 96 are quite in a position to do so, at any rate we are certain that the men from the Permanent Artillery, who have to provide themselves at their own cost with two new uniforms, are unable to bear the expense. Far better would it be to send a smaller contingent, and send them without any loss of dignity to New Zealand. After all, the main point to be remembered is that we are not expected to mke a competitive display with

respect to numbers, and in seeking to despatch 100 men we are proposing to send more than double the number that it is intended to be sent from the other colonies. We are merely asked to join in the display to the extent of our resources. New South Wales has already sent a small contingent away, and is proposing to add to the number to bring the strength up to 50 men ; but the expense has been very largelyborne by public subscriptions, the expense to the Government being under £2OOO, and the men are being paid for their services. In Victoria the whole expense is being borne by private individuals, the cost to the Government being practically nil. In South Australia and Queensland the Government expense is extremely small. New Zealand proposes to sweat its contingent so that it might have double the number of men as compared with the other colonies. The new-born Jingoism of the Premier is likely to lead him into trouble, for it is well known that although members have been given a free hand in this matter they will be hard pressed to vote for Mr Seddon's extravagant proposals. But we believe that the majority of members of the House are opposed to the movement, and the Premier will have to submit to the humiliation of having his military ardour repressed by a callous and unsentimental House. The debate on this subject, together with other matters, leaves no room for doubt that the short session will run into weeks instead of a few days as was at first intimated. This will prevent Mr Seddon leaving the colony as early as he intended, and we should not be surprised if after all he does not find it necessary and expedient to join with the other Premiers who have arranged to travel together via Suez, starting early in May. Mr Seddon is beginning to realise the difference between a large and subservient Majority and a small and rather independently inclined one. We shall know very soon now the wishes of Parliament in •these matters.