A COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12934, 30 September 1902, Page 2

A COLONIAL DEFENCE FORCE.

MR T. E. TAYLOR'S VIEWS. At his social in the Art Gallery last evening, Mr T. E. Taylor said' that he wanted to tell those present that there was an New Zealand a very dangerous proposal. If the people -were wise they would resist ib from start to finish. The Government proposed that a defence force should bo established in the colony. It would' 'be only a small force; the typhoid germ, 1 was also small, but people idid not want to nurse it. The proposal was to create a military reserve and allow it to be at the beck and call of Downing Street. If the Premier had the temerity to try to put the proposal into practice, the speaker would oppose it day and night.- He described' the effect of militarism in Italy, which, he said, was being swallowed up by the'Army and the Church. The peasantry did not want soldiers, and did not care who was their king. The army was wanted to maintain the privileges of the upper classes, and not to protect the peasantry. The proposal was made in New Zealand at an opportune time, 1 when the colony was just old enough to fight. Camadla had l repudiated the whole thing. It said, "No, it would have no formal military bond with- ; the Mother Country; its services would be given voluntarily." The Commonwealth had followed suit. The Boer War had taught the colonies that their isolation was almost sufficient defence. The largest Empire the world had ever known was hard put to to bring about 75,000 fighting men to surrender. Russia, Germany and France combinedi could not transport sufficient troops to permanently occupy this colony. If he took part in public matters during the next three months he would endeavour to see that every man who discussed polities here also discussed that question.