DEFENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 19

DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —There is no subject in which I so thoroughly agree with you as that of defence. Hitherto the majority of t.be people have had such implicit faith in our navy that the idea of our being called upon to protect our homes against all invasion seemed impossible, but now when the question of England’s own defences are raised by eminent military and naval authorities, people are mere willing to see that we have some cause of alarm in our defenceless condition. The Auckland members are very anxious about the disposal of an unallocated portion of a loan not yet raised, but if the Government looks more to the defence of the country they will apply it to the purchase of arms and ammunition, and distribute them among the people. The question of arming and drilling the people must of course be defeirad until the enemy is landed, and then policemen will be sent through the country with note books, asking every one their age, and when the enemy is in possession of every point of vantage we may rouse ourselves up to the fighting position. One of the suggestions made in your columns from time to time is that the rising generation should be taught military drill and discipline at school, but here you fall into the rather common blunder of supposing the present day teachers to be masters of all the ologies under the sun. Others would impose upon them the offices of master tinkers, tailors, weavers, carpenters, &c., &c.; but the question arises, are our teachers capable of teaching all that is imposed upon them ? I believe very few of them are, and as far as drill is concerned, I have seen some capable teachers making some ridiculous blunders when attempting the role of drill sergeants. No blame to them. They are not all old soldiers and sailors. If you want them to be able to teach military drill in schools, just see that an arrangement is come to between the Boards and the military authorities to have them in barracks for a fortnight’s training. They will have a fortnight to spare soon, and I think it would be a good time to teach them their drill and grant certificates to those who pass an examination equal to that for captain.— I am, &c., Drill.