DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 54

DEFENCES OF THE COLONY.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER

CHRISTCHURCH, March 31

The Premier lias replied to the letter from the Mayor of Christchurch forwarding the resolution passed ait the public meeting held on March 18th, in Avhich tlhitJ, Government is asked to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the defences of the colony. The reply, which is sent from the Prime Minister’s office in Wellington, under date March 29th, 1904, is as follows: — “ I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter forwarding the copy of a resolution passed at a public "meeting ' held in Christchurch. You Avill not be surprised -at my informing you that the Government d ! o>es not see its way to give effect to the recommendation made. The prerogative of advising his Excellency the Governor as to the Royal Commission must rest Avith his Excellency’s responsible advisers, and not Avitli irresponsible persons, swayed! by one or two erratic and misguided individuals at public meetings and upon statements misleading and untrue.

‘‘ You yourself Avould doubtless realise that it Avould! be an unusual course to furnish ill respect to defence matters generally information to the Avorld at large but iso glaringly incorrect are statements regarding .ammunition that, with a desire to remove any anxiety on this point, I deem it. my duty to place before you the following facts : —Taking the Canterbury district, there are 554 Pounds of ball cartridge to each volunteer actually in the hands of the officer commanding the district, and there is a reserve in stores of 330 rounds, this making a total of 884 rounds per man, and in’ Otago there are over 600 rounds per volunteer. The statements _ made with regard to ordinance ammunition are equally misleading and incorrect. Irrespective of the orders grien for aiumuuiltiiom and ammunition in course of manufacture, avo have in hand over 700.000 rounds of hall cartridge. “ In forwarding the resolution, you no doubt did it as a. matter of courtesy, and I trust you will receive and 1 accept my reply in the same spirit.”