FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

DOMINION'S COAST DEFENCE

Iho provision of adequate coastal defences for New Zealand was advocated by the Nkw Zkai.and Hkiiai.d 50 years ago. The following is an extract 'from an editorial published on August 00, 1887:

"We learn from the information furnished by the Premier on the inquiry of the Auckland Financial Reform Assoriation that almost £400,000 has been already spent on harbour defences. It is already a pretty little bill oil account of the periodical Russian scare, and the question naturally suggests itself, what does it really give us.-' • "Fortifications have been built, artillery and other material provided, !"it what about the garrisoning? Every tree Icountry should have its citizens trained (to arms, and the records of Switzerland* >the Tyrol and other lands prove tha excellent riflemen can bo thus obtained. } "The number of our regularly en* tolled men 'is necessarily small, and tor t\his reason we long since suggested tttfl formation on certain parts of the cons oV people who would be at once farmers at\d fishermen. Such a coast settlcmcii would furnish a body of marine militjn somewhat like the Naval Reserve in England and in time of war it won swell the garrison of the neighbouring port, or help to man any slaps appointed for coast defence."