HOME DEFENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 934, 24 January 1890, Page 22

HOME DEFENCE.

Thebe are certain points appertaining to measures for defence, raised in Major-General Edward’s

report, that must not be lost sight oh The proper arming of the Volunteer force is oue of these. As it is now, the weapons supplied are of truly heterogeneous character. We would not like to be positive that the old Enfield rifle has been quite discarded, but will hazard an assertion that it has; but certain it is that the almost as obsolete Snider is, literally speaking, the piece de resistance. If there were a sudden call to arms now to repel invasion, upon the Snider, in the way of small arms, would New Zealand have to depend principally. There are a few Martini-Henry’s about, but Dot many, and we do not find fault with that now, because tlm Martini-Henry is not the weapon of the immediate future. But with regard to the immediate past, and viewing the position then in the light of contingencies, the Martini-Henry ought to be in the hands of Volunteers now instead of the Snider. Tin re was a sort ot trusting in Providence that the worst would not ensue, and for once Providence accepted the responsibility and averted the worst. But past immunity is no warrant for farther neglect. At present the outlook ot the year is peaceful. There is a probability of twelve mouths of unbroken peace, which ought to spell studious preparation or. the Colony’s part to face an outbreak of serious hostilities. Volunteers and cadets should be armed, by that time, with a rifle of ihe latest pattern for fighting work. We are aware that the Government has not lost sight of this subject, and that samples of a new rifle were expected last year ; but vve are afraid the matter is being allowed to dnlt. It is. however, something not only to be kept steadily in view, but to Pe decisively acted upon. Then again as to the organisation of the Volunteer force. Wo believe the time has come to incur the expense

of a well-paid commandant, ns suggested by tho report, -an officer to be responsible for the efficiency of ,he force generally and to wield plenary power. His position would, of course, be a farce unless he were furnished with sufficient means. His immediate subordinates ought to be left to his selection. One very important clause of the report is in connection with the appointment of Volunteer officers. The system of local election by the men theuisteiv.es is faulty. It was unavoidable; .when it was first, adopted, but. Tike other crude only alternatives, peculiar to social prirni tiveness, it Tmust give place to the exigencies of progression. Ihe appointment of a Military Board —attached to the Defence Department —(material for which is abundant in tho Colony), would possibly provide the lequisite tribunal before which all candidates for commissions would have to appear and make good their claims. In recommending this, the report had iu view the adoption of the partial-pay system for a quasipermanent force. But as far as our experience of the Volunteers go, we believe that all which is required to convert them into comparatively permanent troops is reasonable liberality on the part of the Colony. The V'olunteers are a splendid example of public spiritedness. Their allowance has been reduced to the barest pittance, aud 3till they man the battalions, preferring to undergo personal pecuniary loss to giving up the ground they so worthily occupy. At the same time their discipline would be improved if officers and men were not quite so much cheek by jowl. Che iine of demarcation ought to be a little more accentuated.

It is a fact: that every inspecting officer who has been asked to report upon, the defences of Wellington baa recommendedl.tbe construction of a battery to command the anchorage at the Heads. General Schaw, -*br "William Jervois, and now Major-General Edwards, are unanimously agreed on this question, and also as to the site viz., the point of the peninsula separating Houghton and Lye Us Bays. And the Government virtually assented to the proposition, and even surveyed Lhe site in question, and made a road fo it, when suddenly the cry for retrenchment arose, and the anchorage at the Heads is still not commanded by a. battery. Indeed, we understand that the Government ordered a nine-inch cannon to arm the battery with, and wo also heard it was en route for the Colony, And then battery and site and everything in connection with it, considered from a defence stand point, faded away excepting the anchorage, which is still open to all and sundry vessels, and nothing to frown upon them if they misbehave. Let us hope there is a whole twelvemonth for preparation, and that the Government will return to its abandoned work on the point between those two bays, and plant a watch-dog there in the shape of a heavy gun. And also that the whole subject of defence will receive the most careful and liberal attention.