MILITARY EXPENDITURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 802, 4 July 1865, Page 4

MILITARY EXPENDITURE IN NEW ZEALAND.

The following information is taken from the Army Estimates for the years 1865-66 :— The general staff in New Zealand consists of 1 Lieutenant-General, 1 BrigadierGeneral, 3 Aides-de-Camp, 1 Assistant Military Secretary, 1 Major of Brigade, 1 Deputy Adjutant-General, 1 Deputy Quar-termaster-General, 2 Deputy Assistant Adjutant-Generals, 4 Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, 2 Colonels on the Staff, 2 Garrison Adjutants, 1 District Adjutant, at a total cost of £5508 9s. 2d. This amount is what is termed staff pay, and each of the above officers draw the full or half-pay of their regimental rank in addition. The staff pay for the whole commands in Australia amounts to £1095, and that in Tasmania to £260 Is. 3d.

Out of 16 commands in Great Britain and Ireland, and 20 in the different colonies, there are only two which show a higher cost of staff pay than New Zealand, namely, the Aldershot command and Canada, the former is £7073 7s. lid., and the * latter £7111 Bs. 4d. . •

The cost to the Imperial Government for provisioning the troopa in New Zealand, stands thus:—Nett cost after deducting stoppages from officers and men for 1864-65, £155,051. Estimated cost for 1865-66, £92,798. This is more than the whole cost of the Home establishment of Great Britain and Ireland, which only amounts to £84,853, and nearly three times the amount of that paid to any other colony; the Cape of Good Hope and Malta being the next highest; namely, £29,260 and £29,187, respectively. The cost of forage in New Zealand for 1864-65 was £103,325, being more than one-third of the entire cost of the Home establishment; and more than four times the cost of any other colony, the next highest to New Zealand being the Cape of Good Hope, which stands at £25,000. The esti mated cost of forage in New Zealand for 1865-66 is £40,000, being a reduction of £63,325 on the former year.

At page 76 of the estimates a statement of the amount included in the estimates for military purposes in the different colonies, and the probable amount to be repaid into the Imperial Treasury by the Colonial Government is shown.

The sum of £601,377 is the estimated cost to the Imperial Government of the troops in New Zealand for 1865-66. £160,000 is the sum put down as the probable amount that will be repaid by the colony duriug 1565-66.

The total cost of the military for the whole of Australia, including Tasmania, is put down at £50,220, the whole of which sum is repaid to the Imperial Government by the different colonies, with the exception of Tasmania's portion, which amounts to £10,400, and which is remitted by the Homo Government on account of the effects of the old system of transportation not yet having worn themselves out.

The whole of the American colonies are put down at a cost of £778,002, of which the colonies refund to the Home Government nothing whatever. A large portion of the above item goes towards constructing works of defence.

The West Indies cost £250,052, and from them there is no refund to the Imperial Government. The Cape of Good Hope cost £298,276, of which sum only £13,500 was refunded by the colony to the Home Government. Ceylon cost £136,113, and refunded to the Imperial Government £100,000. China cost £188,852, and refunded £20,000.

A note is inserted which states that negotiations are pending by which it is proposed that one regiment shall be stationed in New Zealand at Imperial cost, on condition of the colony devoting £50,000 a year to certain native purposes; £40 per Infantry soldier, and £55 per Artilleryman, to be contributed for every additional man. This is not to apply during the present year to any number not in excess of 4000. "With reference to the Australian Colonies it is stated that the Imperial Government haa proposed that the colonies should pay a capitation sum of £40 per head for Infantry, and £70 per head for Artillerymen and Engineers; and £70 per man for all ranks on any number of troops that the Colonial Government may ask for in excess of the requirements deemed necessary by the Home Government.

The Colony of Victoria has requested to be without Infantry, and to be provided with two batteries of Artillery at £55 per head, in terms with the New Zealand arrangement. It is also stated that the whole cost of fortifications and barrack buildings will remain chargeable against the colony

The sum of £20,000 is estimated in additon to the sums already mentioned to officers and others in New Zealand, on account of the high price of .provisions. The strength of the ten regiments at present in New Zealand is estimated for 1865-66 at the following rate:—

It will be observed that the first five battalions are to be kept up to the war establishment, while the latter five are brought down to the home, or peace, establishment, which would indicate that it is the intention of the Home Government to withdraw the latter five regiments during tho present financial year.

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