THE TERRITORIAL AREAS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12806, 30 May 1910, Page 4

THE TERRITORIAL AREAS.

(To the Editor, of "The Colonist.") Sit-}— May t trespass oh your valued Space to traverse somo of the statements appearing under the heading "The Territorials,.'.! iii,. your issue,, .of-to-day: Tho article referred to viewß as disconcerting the probable merging of tho Nelson defence district into that of Canterbury, urging that such a state of affairs should not be allowed to come to pass, and that local authorities should take such steps, pel* medium of political influence' 1 presume; to fetiiih 'ih'cj Nelson- defence district as such. Now, Sir, as a Neason resident, I am as desirous as anyone to witness the progress of the city and district, but as an advocate of a sound national ■ defence scheme, I urge that merely parochial considerations must be made subservient to those of national importance, and it is from latter standpoint that i the question, of the retention dj* abolitipn of this ilef-iibe district must hi* fcdnsiderecl. . What claims,' then, is there retention, and what will be gained to the Dominion by abolition? Years ago, Nelson was, presumably, the most suitable administrative, centre for the Marlborough,- Nelson, and Westland provinces, but recent railway construction has greatly altered the situation from what your articlo calls the "strategical" point of view. At present but 24 miles separate the railheads between Christchurch and Greymo.uth, .and this distance is rapidly decreasing^ while, within throe years, it is c'stimated by engineers that Gre.vmoutb and WestpOrt will bo connected by rath The means of overland transport between Neison aft_ the Coast are too well known to need enumerating here. It will, I thinkj be admitted that if any part of this district suffered invasion, "it would certainly be the coal area on the' Weet Coast, the absence of foreign. coaling stations in proximity id New Zealand making this portion of dur Dominion particularly tempting tp an .invader as. a means of fuel supply for his warships and transports; ■ The problehi of tiie defence Of the coal iirea is probably the principal factor, which has led "the powers that be" to consider the disestablishment of the "military district in which •we reside, fbr could even thd merest tyro in military affairs argue that Nolson, with inferior means of communication, and not onesixth of the troops that could be mobilised and transported in Canterbury, should be preferred tb.Chri'stehurcii as the. centre to. which ihe Coast should look . for assistance in time of war, or administration in time of peace. Any independent military authority, were the position placed fully before him, would certainly say that Christchurch, ami 'ii-6_- Nelson, was the. proper defence headquarters for tho Coast. Then, without the Coast, what claim, other than that of precedent, could Nelson put forward ill support of a retention of the remaining portion of tho area as a separate military district ? Has it any suitable harbour, any dock or repairing facilities, any large accumulation of wealth or stores, or any strategical position that would make.it at all worthy of an enemy's attention? Has it ever a population to be trained in tho art of defence, at all in proportion to that of other districts ? No; Nelson of course has its cable station, but tho advent of wireless stations will render the defence of the '"shore '-and of our caote «. matter -of. minor importance. ~Why, then, should we urge upon residents to agitate politically against a Department, which, in the administration of so important a work as that of the defence of this Dominion, should bo kept absolutely free from influences whiclr endeavour to place local interests above national ones. — I am 'etc., EX-OFFICER. Nelson, May 27, 1910.