DEFENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10633, 5 July 1920, Page 3

DEFENCE

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—l notice that Mr R. McOalluui has been able to bring before the Council of Education some strong views in connection with the very daugeivus system of militarism which is in our midst, and the sooner some steps are taken to prevent this awful waste which is going on at the present time the better it will be for tiio taxpayer* if this Dominion. As far back as November last, Sir James Allen Jiad ,to admit that our prwsent system did not make tor efficiency, and that too much money was wasted, it is to be hoped now that a new Minister for Defence is appointed he will go carefully into the matter of our land defences and clean up the Augean stables. It is a well-known fact that place a man in uniform and he will have no regard for £.s.d. except his <wn. Perhaps it is a hard thing to say, but it is nevertheless perfectly true. I would give this warning to Mr Massey that if something is not done at once to curtail fine expenditure in this department there will bo a serious howl right throughout the length and breadth of this country. That New Zealand is a land worta defending is perfectly true, but ono cannot afiord such a huge amount of the Defence appropriations to be oaten up by officers' pay and travelling expenses alone. As a matter of fact, it would bo interesting to learn how many officers there are in the Defence Departmentwho are no more than camouflage offioers and have never handled a rifle or know the) first rudiments in connection with military duties. Is it small wonder that the heart of the Treasury is being eaten up with excrescences? One has only to glance at the Eefenco appropriations to see what a largo amount of the expenditure is absorbed by the salaries of highly-paid officials Sir, since the Godley regime, money for Defence has flowed like water, and now is the opportunity for some strong man to come forward and curtail tho cost of the land defences of New Zealand.

it should bo remembered that no camps were liekl last year, yet the money voted "by Parliament had to be "blown"—somehow. Our citizens won the late war, and there is no doubt that the volunteers, riflo clubs, and tho cadet system contributed in large measure to the success of our efforts. It certainly . was not due to the Defence scheme in force in New Zealand. Aek the returned soldiers, and, see if what I say is not correct. Inculcate patriotism, Jove of home and country (call it what you may) into the rising generation; and what **ith the teachers in our schools who all have' not only the brains but \he gift of imparting military knowledge to our youths, and you will get a better system than that which obtains, and the number of military officers could not only be reduced, but could be better eniployed in another sphere. This is too serious a matter to trifle with, and it behoves the people of this Dominion to rise up and stop at once the costly "octopus'' which is crushing the industrial people of this country. Lord Jolliooe is due here shortly. He will no doubt be keen on naval defence, which must be faced —rightly so—and then, again," we must see to our air force. How, then, ia our Minister for Finance going to find ways and moans if some drastic steps are not taken with a view to curtailing the huge amount now spent by the

Defence Department. I must not crave any more of your 6paco, so I shall not touch on rifie clubs, which, in my opinion, deserve more encouragement. PATRIOT.