Lake County Press. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Arrowtown August 15, 1907 NOTES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2182, 15 August 1907, Page 4

Lake County Press. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY

Arrowtown August 15, 1907 NOTES.

The trust UkU'.h given Hue guard, and lo l/iysetj be. just.

The first report of New Zealand's Defence Council will be as carefully perused by the public of the colony as by volunteers. New Zealanders have been naturally anxious to know the intentions of the Colony and what steps would be taken to improve the defence of the colony and popularise volunteering. Well, as to policy the Council stated, in its report laid on the table of the House last week, that it was decided that the policy of defence should for the present continue purely voluntary ; that regulations bo made and amended to further encourage enlistment and obtain efficiency ; that the force be for service in the defence of the colony, oversea contingents required at anytime being raised and equipped as a special force. A note of warning is also struck. Should the volunteer force not be maintained or brought up to an efficient state, volunteering, says the Council, has had its last chance. If the general public are in earnest as to defence they must themselves assist and ensure that, under the volunteer system, sufficient enlistment is made -and that once men are enlisted they attend regularly. The alternative is a system of universal or compulsory training whereby uhe burden of service in the defenco force will be more evenly distributed. It is hoped to encourage rifle clubs, of which there are 12G, and to make them feel that they are an important adjunct to the active force. The enrolled strength of the defence forces is 20,033. As to equipment, tho Council states that a reserve of rifles should be obtained to bring the number in tho colony up to 50,000 to complete the personnel and mobilisation equipment for a first line force which should be ready in emergency to meet surprise raids and for issue from time to time for peace training and manoeuvres. Tiir Mayors of the different boroughs of New Zealand and the press alike have been approached by the Wanganui citizens on the subject of a national testimonial to W. Webb, the champion sculler. Subscription lists have been forwarded, with the request that the local bodies arrange to receive subscriptions to the fund. New Zealanders naturally are proud of Webb's achievement, but the proposal for a national testimonial is a rather large order, and one that is not meeting with unanimous approval It is on the other hand having a rather " rough passage." The public have sufficient calls on their purses to provide for charities, etc., in their own particular districts without giving to a national testimonial. The citizens of Wanganui are properly delighted that a resident should obtain the distinction of champion, and their enthusiasm is quite natural, but the providing of a testimonial should, we think, bo confined to the district where Mr Webb is best

known. Several papers aro fairly ! severe on ili:. proposal. Ti!o . 3 f f : says: "Tii..- incongruity this tic- , moil ;lra!.io:i ;. r . ; .M'otoSO/ie -' ia '. r '■ ° ; 'o'i;. Li p; ris'ii iii 11 io whirlpool of its j own ah: iirdiiy." The Lylteltoil Times ironically sii»-»osl.s that '" the G ivern- | ment slioii:il°at once despatch l-lio Tu- j tauekai, witli the l'.!hn lialbmco and j the AmoksiM .:■.; r: ._:;"'. to i'!'ii:g »Vi '•'' I bad* from Hymii'v. . • '-''he sess.on j could lio suspended for a week, except j for a special silling in order to make j Webb ii grant of .t'iio.ooo aiul a suitable ■ estate, Lo bo selected out of the- nine million acres of proposed national endowments. The views of the Wanganui people concerning a house and section would be fittingly met by giving Webb the frnohold of one of the Ministerial residences."