THE THOUSAND MEN PROPOSAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4300, 8 March 1901, Page 7

THE THOUSAND MEN PROPOSAL

FURTHER VIEWS OF AIEAIBERS. ONE HUNDRED TO BE SENT. 'The proposal that the colony should be represented by a body of military at Dm opening of the Commonwealth Parliament is being widely canvassed, both in town and country, and every, where voices are raised against the proposal, as being both needless and wasteful. Comment has also been made on Dm fact that members of the Legishilivc Council have been consulted in this matter, which stands in the same, rola- ' tiou as a money Bill to the representa- % lives of the Upper Chamber. Wednesday’s Christchurch ‘'Press,’ ; referring to the Premier's memo, to - members, says: —“That there is a gcu- ' erai outcry against the proposal to send a thousand men to the opening of the Commonwealth says something, at any rate, for the common sonst* of the country. It is time same curb was rmt on Dm absurd megalomania, with which Mr Sodden appears to be afflicted, or other-vri-o it may land, the colony into very serious consequences. If troops are wanted for the defence of the Empire, let them be sent by nil moans. But to • end a thousand men to the Commonwealth celebrations lo swell the :m----portunco of any of onr Ministers who ir-ay be. present, and to enable this colony to make a‘false pretence of being I a great military power, is an act ol loii ly and extravaganee which no words are j too- strong to condemn.” The “Lj-itclUm Times" is equally I strong in opposition. (fur eon I cmporar.v Kay.--, : atrongly against the despatch of a. large military contingent, and v.c arc- glad t,o find tho Canterbury members, at least, have generally opposed the idea. Our finance.; arc not so superlatively healtuy that wo can afford to’ spend largo sums upon more shows. . . Wc trust that Air Sodden will not construe the very guarded approval of bis proposal . expressed by members of Parliament into a mandate to send a whole battalion of troops. We are beginning to hone- a little eagerly for a return of the sober, prosperous days whoso peace was not interrupted every week by khaki outbursts." Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, A1.11.R., hay. written to the Premier a-s follows: “Owing to visit of Duke and Duchess Yens and Cornwall to New Zealand and consequent large expemtituro which must then takoplacCj think it would be wrong to send contingent at all. Quite sufficient if New Zealand represented opening Commonwealth Parliament by Ministers of Crown and such members of both Houses as may go overs Also in view of the many dorna.nd;; still unsatisfied d? country sottl ( Tnr roads and bridges, and delay winch occurs through money not being available tor even most pressing works, consider it would , bo wrong in principle to expend money in sending any contingent whatever. Please consider me as opposing any such',expenditure, especially after cost to colony of representation at inauguration Coinmionw.ea.lth and visit Imperial t roans.” All- A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., ha., expressed to the Premier bis utter disapproval of the proposal to send further troops 'to South Africa. He _ has expressed tho opinion that it “is about i 11110 the requirements of the settlors in the country were getting some consideration.” - Air J. O’Meara, has expressed the- opimon that this colony ought to “mark time for a year or two." Ho thinks we have done quite enough to show our friendliness to tho colony already. Air Aleredith, tho member for Ashley, has replied to the* Premier’s message: “As there, is no immediate likelihood of Now Zealand joining the Commonwealth, and as we were adequately represented at birth of Commonwealth, in January, and considering great expense out people have been put to in sending contingents to Smith Africa, the colony should not bo called upon to defray expensca of military contWgent to be present at opening of-'Commonwealth Parliament.” ! v ■ Air J. MoLachlan, the member for,Ashburton, /has sent, tho following reply :— : “I am'hot iii favour of sending contingent to the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. Let onr people attend to their: own business. Wo are not of tho Commonwealth, and I hope nyvor will be, “When the Royal couple v.uit us then wo can demonstrate oiir lovalty. Spread-eagleism maybe carried too far.”, Air W. W.-Collins, the senior member for'.Christchurch,'has sent the following reply to the D Premier’s teloI gram ;—“Do note-think' one thousand should be- sent. The number must depend on tho cost'find the ability of tho colony to stand it. If any sent should represent both races.” .-Mr G. WJ Russell, M.11.R. for Eiccarton, has sent ■ the following answer to tho telegram ;—“I am, opposed to any contingent ’going to 'Australia.” In conversation with a.-pressman:, Air Rhssfell said:— “l. -think New Zealand has already done everything, that courtesy to, and congratulation of the Commonwealth requires. We arc nob a military nation, and in my opinion it is the height of absurdity to put on the airs of militarism by sending any body of troops from this colony to Australia. Had my opinion been asked-as to send-; ing mounted troops to Sydney for tho Commonwealth Celebration, I should have opposed that course. being taken. As a matter of fact, Parliament was asked to vote only £SOO-for the purpose, and I was amaaed at finding that the Government proposed to send over a body of (loops.’’ • - Air C. Lewis, was discourteous enough not to reply to tho Premier's memo., and probably hiy .silence lias been construed into consent. Interviewed, ho said that members wore not consulted as to the last Australian Contingoiuj although the'House was sitting when it was decided by tho Premier to send one. Since then two military contingents had been despatched to Smith Africa. Members were not consulted about them, and it appeared to him to be nothing short of the grossest insolence for the Premier, after completely ignoring the House in-tho above matters, new to consult individual members. As a parting shot Air Lewis said : —“However, if the Premier is bent upon sending one thousand representatives of the course of public events during tho last few months, I would -suggest that ho should send one thousand beggars on horseback.” FURTHER REPLIES. | Special to the “Times.” ! . AUCKLAND, Afarch 7. '! The following are some additional rc-| plies of members of Parliament to the 1 Premier's memorandum as to the advis-l ability of sending a .’contingent to re-j present New Zealand'at the opening off the Commonwealth Parliament:— | Tho Hon Captain Russell, in his reply, cxpiosscd tho opinion that it would bo wise to send a contingent, but it should not exceed two companies of men. say, sixty each, one of Europeans and one: of Alaoris. The latter, -jiy their exem- ' plary conduct, would prove that in case:

1 j 1 of ultimate federation (however improb- | able) they were quite fit to bo include* : in. the population of the country foi j the electoral privileges of the Common--1 wealth* With that object in view, haka | dancing should bo discouraged. 1 Lieutenant-Colonel Pitt, Ai.L.O., rei plied as follows; —Aly opinion is against I sending tho coutingout requested by i the Commonwealth Premier. Having i regard to the cost of the contingent in { December and tho cost of the visits of i tho Imperial and Indian troops, I trunk ■ Parliament would object to the expen- ! diture upon anouier contingent to Aus--1 tmlia. I think New Zealand lias done : .sufficient to evidence her friendly feeljiug towards the Commonwealth. If a j contingent is sen I, f decidedly think i that the Alaoris should be represented, and the contingent s' uuk! be 100 of each ra.ee. .Sir. G. Al. Q'Rorkc replied that he tiirncdit tho Government should meet tho wishes of tho Federal Government as far as passible. Ho considered that only picked and drilled men should be seat. If 500 picked Alaoris could not bo obtained, thofi as many as possible should be sent. The Hon S. E. Slirimski’s reply was to the effect that he was. strongly opposed lo sending 1000 men.' Ho .would be willing to send 250 men, half Europeans and half -Maoris. Air F. AY. Lang (Waikato) replied:-* The only objection 1 eau see to sending so largo a contingent is the question of expense. If the expenditure of money in this way moans that roads to onr buck-block settlements are to suffer, I should strongly oppose it. THE DECISION OF'AIEAIBERS. The Premier states that as the result of his consultation of tho members ol Parliament by telegraph ho finds that the majority are in favour of sending to Alclkmirno, for the opening ° l ' Federal Parliament, a 1 mi'ted number of men, somewhere about 100. In view of the state of public opinion, however, it is generally presumed to be not at all certain yet that even Dial number will bo sent.