INTERNAL DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14152, 11 March 1910, Page 2

INTERNAL DEFENCE.

LORD KITCHENER'S REPORT. AUSTRALIAN SCHEME SERVES. The Field-Marshal's report telegraphid from Rotorua on Wednesday night, lonsists of an application to New Zea_and of Part I. of his Australian D'e!enc3 Report, hut it is accompanied by ;he following covering letter, dated March 2nd, addressed to Sir Joseph Ward : ''Dear Sir Joseph Ward—l do not think it is necessary to write you a special memorandum on the defence of New Zealand, ns from what I have seen during my inspection the neces 3ity for improved training is just as pqually marhed in this country as it is in Australia. It appears to me that for your land forces. New Zealand and Australia should adopt homogeneous military systems in order to be able to efficiently support one another in the event of national danger. The desirability of such co-operation is evident by reason of the geographical position of the two countries; moreover, the | young men of New Zealand and Australia, though showing some markedlv different characteristics, arc in both countries splendid material for creating a first-rate fighting machine, for the conditions of their country lifo are very similar, producing successful ! pioneers, accustomed to make the hand j supply the wants of th.e man. I think | therefore, that uniformity in training j and establishments of units, as well as ! the closest ties of enniradoshio in the ) armed land fores of New Zealand and j Australia, should lie fostered in every j way. These considerations point to ' New Zealand sending those cadets des- : linen a> he instructors of her '-i'iiV-pI!:-. to tho Australian West 7'oi?it. which T have reeromaenchd the Com' nxm.'.-ealth Ooyrrireent should instiab.ait t.-> osteal;:-':. It- is unite evide::; thai tho want'; of New Zealand in this n-.s"a-:, are m.fc snOicipnt to create a ;Wi! b, seen from \ hV'W.-t '' /hat! work" ■"-.'cw Zealand'wo-dd'he ah>!:t -"'/ h is'', -•; in ihe Si'ufk Island. Each aiva head-quarters sd'aW' \,V\ 'ai'<o 'he want'xl.* I shou'd there:' .re recommend an eventual establishment for the ', New Zealand Staff Corns or a hundred i officers, being the ninety-one accounted ! for above, plus 10 per' cent, to allow for the deputation of officers to train with units in India and tho United Kingdom, sickness, etc. By ranks this establishment will work out at: — Colonels 3, lieutenant-colonels G, majors 13, captains 28, lieutenants 52, total, 1(10. Tlie maintenance of tiiis number will require an annual supply of about five officers, so that, to allow for the selection of the best men, I would recommend that New Zealand should send ten cadets annuallv to the Australian College, from whom five would ultimately be chosen for commissions in the staff corns. You have so recently had the views of the War Office on the land forces of New Zealand, that I do not deem it necessary to point out the considerations which govern the defence of this Dominion. You will find, however, that Part I. of the project which I gave to the Commonwealth Government, and which I now enclose and. recommend to vou, does not differ from tho War Office memorandum in any matters of importance, but it will, I hope, afford vou a practical scheme for giving effect to your defence measures. At the risk of repetition, I wish again to emphasise the importance of placing tho ideal of your defence on as high a standard of efficiency as possible, in order that the men serving, as well as the public, may have a just pride in the fighting value of the force, and so insist upon "the observance of the important principle i that defence should be outside partv politics and not used bv individuals for political purposes. *A thoroughly trained and efficiently equipped force should be tho supreme object of your j efforts and no personal considerations should for a moment be allowed -to stand in the way. It only remains for me to thank you most sincerely for the facilities afforded me on my visit, and for the assistance which I have everywhere received in the inspection of your defences and troops. I shall always remember with much gratification mv | association with the forces of this Dominion. I shall follow their progress [ with the keenest interest, and I shall be only too glad at any time to give [such advice or assistance that may be ! required in my power. j "I forward herewith a separate conI fidential communication on the subject (of the fixed defences of New Zealand." "Yours very truly,

"KITCHENER," *[The average "quota" for each j "area" in the Australian scheme works ! out at 293 Infantry, 451 Light Horse, 34 Artillery, and 28 Engineers, and Departmental service. Tlie different arms, however, are not equally distributed, a table is given in which tlie 215 "areas" are treated in 21 "groups," of 8, 10 or 12 areas, and whilst each group is allotted 4 battalions of infantry, in some cases two, in other cases three areas are allotted 1 battalion. The Light Horse Squadrons are still more unevenly distributed. Three groups having none, others from 1 to 12 (the latter one for each "area.") The field batteries are distributed by twos and threes among the groups, all groups, but not All areas providing them. Each group is also allotted one Engineer Company, an Army Service Company, and one Field Ambulance, but those are supplied by, or within two or three "areas" in each case.]

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS. COST OF THE SCHEME. Interviewed by a, Rotorua "Herald" reporter on Lord Kitchener's memorandum, taken in conjunction with the portion of the Aiisraliau report attached to it, tho Prime Minister first went into the matter of cost entailed upon the dominion by adopting the Field-Marshal's proposals. Speaking generally, Sir Joseph said, the figures contained in the Australian report require to be divided bv four to arrive at tho cost to New' Zealand. Doing this, the approximate cost to the dominion of Lord Kitchener's scheme would amount, in the seventh year after it has been in oneratioii. to £470,000 per annum. This includes 7?T-^ V Zealancl il margin of safety of £20,000 as its proportion under "miscellaneous." The present nrovision is £202,618, plus £50,000 a vear for three years for material. The Australian item for fixed defences is a larger proportion than is needed in New Zealand. The additional amount x>er year necessary in New Zealand to carry out this scheme of Lord Kitchener's would commence at about £25,000 per year, and in seven years would run to about £125.000 beyond what is proposed to be paid under tho system of internal defence now in operation. This covers both the land forces and the permanent harbour defences. The whole of the £125,000 would not be an annual cost, but it is difficult to say at present how much less it would be. I think, however, that it would be safe to estimate it at £loo,ooo'a year.

Tho Prime Minister went on to say that he was having the whole of the details of Lord Kitchener's scheme worked out under their respective headings, so that by the time Parliament meets the fullest information would be available, giving the actual cost to the full scheme. In some cases less than one-fourth of the Australian estimates would be required. It was. however, impossible to have an efficient scheme without paying for it; still he did not think it would necessitate increased taxation. The country was expanding, and the scheme could not he carried out at once. Sir Joseph g Ward agreed that Australia, and New Zealand should have a homogeneous » land defence system, and approved of the' proposal that New Zealand should avail itself of the Australian West Point College, though this should not prevent the New Zealand University establishing a military course. He stated that a statement of the differ- "I ences between the War Office scheme -1 and Lord Kitchener's is being prepar- I ed. He fully agreed that the question, of defence should be keot free from party politics. Lord Kitchener's report dealt also with harbour defences, but. |as in Australia, this part was con'idcu- 1 j tial. because to publish it would give l information to those outside the counj try who ought not to get possession of it. 'The recommendation in connection with harbour defences, however, was quite within the means of the doj minion, and the cost was included in the above estimate of £470,000. ! MR MASSEY'S VIEWS. ] j SCHEME TOO COSTLY. 2 j AUCKLAND, Maßrch 10. ! Mr Massey. tho Leader of tho Oppo- : sifion, interviewed in regard to Lord : f Kitchener's report, said he thought it j would be n serious mistake f-i j;o be- , yord 'he expenditure eo:ite::u.ila.led bv i the De'-je-e" Act. or re -; = cr,-:i?e the- - 1 a"- fir milivirv training. Sir J O. P Ward estimated the c-.sr of Lord Kit- <■!!<■ mr's soK-M.r :x -: '..rom-l -,,,... :; „_ ( inn" : ■!-, t'";f ""'-;? -[■• '■•' :-'h.h"- 1 PI 00'VTl <; as subsidy to the Inner!?.! Navy, and '>'■"" _;:;'.e- r ..t and shi'dng i'ued in filet 0; r.:\C.m— r-. v \ ry-'i /-'iV':,,' ',,'il."" Ho As h- the nr:-.r.-:e:V far the : wid :---'» f am"suro'tl!:!"weeid xteTZ ' " -viital;-.. Many ,v e-.le do not !,vV eniiee of r-^-■■■-.. ;„ r ;,-..,,..;.., ,„,,-; ,'.„,;_ .