DEFENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16035, 16 September 1912, Page 8

DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—-The debate on the Defence Act affords interesting reading. The cost is now allowed to be approximating half j a million per annum, with no present I prospect of reduction, which means that ' the people will be taxed more and more heavily as the incubus of militarism , settles on our land. | The salaries of oflßcers, though they i are far higher than the salaries paid to civilian officials, are allowed to be too small " because they may be called ' upon to carry their lives in their hands lon the battlefield." This sounds re- ' markably exclusive on the part of the ! officers, but we have yet to learn that '■ the officers are tho only people who | " carry their lives," etc. it would be ; a distinct advance in military methods if the officers were the only people required so to do; but unfortunately at ; present the officers need the trivial assistance of the rank and file, who may ahortly be expected to be wondering I " where they come in." ! The expenditure in dress is upheld, ias it popularises the service. If thia 1 is true, we are sorely in need of a newedition of " Sartor Resartus," specially ' revised and adapted for New Zealand- ; ers. If the scheme is sound it wants no " glad rags " to bolster it; if it is I contrary to the best instincts of freer dom-loving Britishers, then let it be known for the enemy of democracy it is. How tottering the whole fabric of the Act is is well instanced by the Minister's fear of the consequences that would follow the insertion in it of a conscience clause. " What fear need there be if the Act is as popular as its initiators would have us believeP Again, what confidence can we have in the justice of an Act which requires Ministers to affirm in defence of the infringements of its provisions by_ the military authorities that such infringements are necessary for the explanation of its meanings and that great disappointment would be experienced if its provisions were not illegaly earned out?—l am, etc., _, A. W.