CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8066, 29 September 1887, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE COST OF FORTIFICATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was rather amused to see in this morning's Herald a letter from Mr. W. J. Courtney, in whioh he stated that we should ask the British Government to refund to na the £400.000 spent by as upon our defences. His contention, that as New Zealand is a part of the British Empire, the British Government should be at the expense of erecting our fortifications, will not bear looking into. He asserts that, as London and Portsmouth do not have to pay for the defences erected there, New Zealand should not do so either in respeot to her own fortifications. . Now, the statement that London and Portsmouth do not fortify themselves at tbeir own expense is hardly oorreot, for, although they may not directly pay for these works, yet, a* a portion of the kingdom from which the British Government raise their revenue, they do very materially contribute towards the expenses of tbeir fortifications. In New Zealand, however, affairs are differently managed. We do not contribute anything to the British exchequer. We control oar own revenue, and are therefore required to provide for our own defences. The statement that New Zealand, being a part of the British Empire, exposes as to the risk of invasion by a hostile fleet, in the event of England being embroiled in war, is quite true, bat there is another side to the question. If we ware not British subjects, we should be exposed to the filibustering expeditions of aggressive Germans or of other nationalities; life and property would be insecure, and we might be subjected to all the horrors that are now being enacted in the tragedy of the German interference in Samoa. The British Government, Mr. Courtney tells ns, are constructing ft railway from the naval station at Simonstown to Capetown, and I might also add that they, in conjunction with the Canadian Government, are fortifying Esquimau it, the aaval station on the Pacific. I hold that tbey are at liberty to do so if they think fit, but at the same time, those parts j of the Empire tfept do not contribute to the I Imperial exchequer have no claim upon the ! British Government for a refund of any sums they may have spent upon their defences. Should 1 be wrong I trust that Mr. Courtney will show me my error.—l. am, &0., Parnell, September 28. John Field.