LORD KITCHENER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9696, 4 March 1910, Page 4

LORD KITCHENER.

Per Press Association. Auckland, March 3 Sir Joseph Ward, who has accompanied the Field-Marshal through his tour, gave a reporter some impressions of the event this afternoon. He paid a high tribute to the manner in which the transport of troops and cadets from the oat districts to the four centres had been accomplished by the Railway Department, and pointed out how the Main Trunk railways were proving their useful- ' ness in this respect. The fact that in round numbers 13,000 cadets, and some 7000 adult volunteers had been assembled at the four centres with out a hitch, marked a distinct advance so far as the transport facilities of the Dominion were concerned. “One point we should remember in connection with the visit of Lord Kitchener,” said Sir Joseph, “is that he did not come to either New Zealand or Australia to inspect, in the ordinary sense of the word, the volunteers or the cadets, and for that reason he has not publicly expressed any opinion as to the efficiency of the men, inor the correctness or otherwise of any manoeuvres that have beep carried ontdnriughis visit. His mission to New Zealand was to suggest what was the best system to adopt for the defence of the Dominion, and in this category I include the permanent defence of the harbours that require it. It is therefore to this report and recommendations that we must look in order to lay down a proper and effective scheme. I feel personally that the result of his visit will materially add to the value of the defence system of the Dominion, I cannot discuss the recommendations in the report, which was handed to me last ■ inight from Lord Kitchener, except to say that they fare on pines that are well within the possibilities of the Dominion to carry out. After they have been considered by the Government, they will be published so as to give members of Parliament and the public generally a full opportunity of becoming acquainted with them before the nest session of Parliament ” Asked as to the effect of the report on the New Zealand Defence Act, Sir Joseph said he had no donbt that legislation would be desirable to include the scheme proposed by Lord Kitchener in his report.

AUCKLAND’S DEFENCES

Lord Kitchener, during his visit to Auokland, paid special attention to the defence of Waitemata Harbour, in view of the faofc that in the immediate future the harbour is to be a base for the British Navy in the Southern Paoific. As the result of his observations it is understood that in hiß report to the Defence Minister he had made recommendations v?liiob>. if carried out in their entirety, will plaoe the Auckland fortifications upon the seme scale as those of Sydney.