THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1908 DEFENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1908 DEFENCE.

Like many a previous debate on the same subject, the discussion on defence which took place in the House on Tuesday last was more conspicuous for generality than for finality. There is no unanimity of conviction among tho residents of Netv Zealand in regard to the defence of their country. On the ono hand there aro those who cry, and cry somewhat loudly, for compulsory universal military training. On the other hand there is the great body of public opinion which is distinctly apathetic and is apparently prepared to believe that whatever is is for tho best. This is not to say, of course, t'liat there are not those in plenty whose view is a via media between that of the alarmist .who sees too far and that of the short-sighted philosopher who never looks ahead. . As a matter of fact, however, the subject of defence involves too many .considerations for entire agreement to' be expected concerning it. The problem with which New Zealand is faced at the present time is satisfactorily to adjust to the position of growing importance she may claim to occupy as part of the Empire the sense of responsibility and tho spirit of self-reliance which self-respect and self-interest naturally urge her to develop for her own greater security. It would truly, be a miserably constituted people that, while complacent the development of its young, national individuality,'would, be always content to accept the armed protection of tho Motherland as its shield and buckler, to the absolute neglect of its obvious duty to itself and to the flag to which it owes allegiance. New Zealand may be open to the reproach that she does not do enough for herself from a defensive standpoint. It does not require a jaundiced eye to gee in a Volunteer system that means a force of under 20,000 men trained to a standard of efficiency which is always more or less a subject of controversy, and in a contribution of about as many thousands towards the upkeep of the British navy as it actually costs millions to maintain it-,- a disappointing development, of the idea of national responsibility and self-reliance, Yet in its' action in relation to defence the Government must be largely guided by the general feeling of the community, and in their effort to improve the olnnteer system and in their decision to increase tho naval subsidy the authorities may in the opinion of many be considered to have gone as far in principle as they have had justification for doing. That too much can bo done to improve and popularise the , Volunteer service is not to be suggested. In fact, the problem has always been to contrive to do sufficient. Evidence of that is seen in the planner in which volunteering still languishes despite various efforts for its encouragement.< Ihe main obstacle to tho success of these efforts is no doubt the apathy of a people itnconviuced in time of peace of the reality of the necessity for any special endeavour on its own part to secure its future against contingencies which it Relieves to bo otherwise sufficiently well provided for. In the discussion in Parliament two or three members spoke with conviction of the desirability that the defence of New Zealand should be placed on a more assurer footing by reinforcement from within; and there was cogency in tJieir arguments. Of necessity the genius of defence consists in the ability to appreciate the possibilities of the future, and some such possibilities were prominently enough suggested in the arguments that were adduced in the debate. It might seem a little* curious, perhaps, that the Prime Minister should be credited with sayin" anything so open in a sense to misconstruction as that "he would be a wise man who would assert that in some distant years all the white races might not have to combine against the yellow races." The suggestion is, however, one that has long since lost all its originality. Tho policy of the Government, which cannot be seriously quarrelled with, is to make the best of the Volunteer system, and it is the extent to which the outcome will vindicate its i policy that is still unfortunately only too problematical. After the scathin* criticism of the efficiency of the Volunteer service for which he was responsible on Tuesday, the member for Wellington Central will not be alone in anticipating the report of the Defence Council with particular interest,' since the mending of the Volunteer system which was reported to be, in the eyes of the Council, the alternative to its ending is still very much in the experimental stage. We should imagine that the most practical suggestion in the debate was that of Mr James Allen-with regard to the necessity for satisfactory harbour defence. Coastal defence* in its full significance is, however, a very large subject where a small country with a long coast line is concerned. Sir Joseph YVard, after all, only expressed the general opinion of colonists when he suggested that it was unfair to' suppose that the. British Government was not giving reasonable consideration to the defence of this part of the Empire. Such a supposition would be opposed to one of tlie articles of faith of New Zealand people, and it is understood that it is fcr emergency in defence that this country has to prepare at this stage of its history.

The Prime Minister is perfectly logical in insisting on the supreme importance of the British Navy as the real bulwark of the defence of the Dominion, for it is to her existence as a part of tho British , Empire that New Zealand owes tho real I strength of her position. Ho is, moreover, we suppose—though a great deal of argument may be heard to the contrary—perfectly right in his belief that public opinion is not ripe for any radical departure from the Volunteer systeki at present in vogue in this country.