COLONIAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9620, 19 September 1894, Page 4

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

We are apparently soon to hear a good deal about colonial defence and the constitution of the volunteer force, because a conference is to be held in Wellington to discuss the whole subject. Invitations have been issued to a number of gentlemen who have been connected with the defence or volunteer forces, and who have at the same time some political position. Then we have from England a cable message stating that Rear-Admiral Golomb has written a letter to the Times on the defence of Sydney, saying that the means of defence employed is all wrong, and that the enemy " would march into Sydney by the back garden, not by the hall door." There is one aspect of this defence question which must be keenly watched, and that is, the cost. If we allow the subject to get into the hands of men with a military training, who see only the professional aspect of it, and who believe that there is nothing like leather, we shall soon find the expense mounting up to a serious annual burden. Already, the expenditure in New South Wales is large. It began with the annual sum | of £30,134 ; in 1891, it was £279,239, exclusive of loan expenditure to the amount of £111,893, besides the contribution to the auxiliary naval defence force. Up to the end of 1891, the colony of New South Wales had spent £4,310,745 for defence. The first line of defence of New Zealand, as of the other colonies, is the sea, and there the chief burden must be' borne by Great Britain, which has a vital interest in maintaining the ocean traffic. Towards this we make a contribution, and further, we furnish ports where ships can retire to, docks where they can be refitted and replenished, and where they can receive that essential to the modern cruiser, supplies of coal Further, each of the harbours of our principal cities is fortified, being defended by torpedos and batteries. We cannot erect forts all round our coasts, and maintain a body of trained men for each. Our defences already have cost us a serious sum. The following are the figures for recent years 1884-85, £100,417 ; 188586, £218,409 ; 1886-87, £229,356 ; 188788, £195,519; 1888-89, £103,680; 188990, £79,366 ; 1890-91, £91,689 1891-92, £82,987 ; 1892 - 93, £71,013. These figures all relate to what may be called external defence, and have no connection with our large military expenditure in native wars. There is no need for our volunteer force being large, but the companies that are established should be fairly dealt with and maintained in a condition of efficiency. As respects provision for defence of our ports and coasts we do not think we are called upon to do anything more than at present. We do not think we are running any undue risk, but if we are, we must just continue to do so, for assuredly our finances are not able to stand the strain of a heavy expenditure upon forts and batteries.