Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1910. THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9624, 15 March 1910, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1910. THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

"lUa-uy men, many opinions," on this j as on r.ll other qm'itio.is. We have ' aiuougst us two ditto rent p.irties. (_>;!■: section of p'.-opie would forthwith p.dop? a c.'OoS'ly an i plac s lho country m :i attitude of "attention; ,, oriiovs deprecat": "rii ! :> cr.?aliou of a military spirit iti society, and would leave tii;. matter of d.-i'osuM very much ro o!i:ii»if. It most bo confessed that The hsttar suction most truly yp3i>k/, tiia British uiiu.l. Wliotli or under fclio .sneciai cii'..:umst;rin , e,s of the colonies, ihoir moagm p;ipniation, wide areas, and-proximity to the. ro.-ti'.-ss Etisr, tliis ''Iniijsez-all&r" spirit will not have to be quickouod, is a question. Personally, wo boliove it should, and that the matter of defence should be put iv the fore-front of smi:it questions. There will bo many, we believe, who take the view that with our existing organisation iiMd material wo should be able to place ourselves in a suiricieutly strong position to rop?l attack. Lord Kitchen'jr iias pointed out wherein our present organisation is lacking, and attention should be given to these defects. Many people will deprecate the formation of a caste, such as would follow the establishment of a nnlitai'3' college. We j may not. desire ».n Addiseombe or Sandhurst hero for gilded youth; and as a matter of fact, many parents do not want their sons to yearn after the profession of arms. It is possible that efficiency could bo secured without these things, but then we must be loyal to Lord Ki.tolienor if we loan on J him. The British policy has been to so conduct international affairs as to reduce the probability of war to a mini mum. When sometimes this has been impossible, the people have always contrived to hold their own. To be in a perpetual stato of preparation would involve a rapidly growing organisation and endless oxponso besides the elevation of the military caste to a position intolerable to Britons. Soldiers should be of no more consequence than policemen. Continental nations living under a military despotism (for that is what their condition really is) are by no means models for our imitation. That our population should be trained to arms after the Swiss 'fashiou is well. Seeing, however, that Lord Kitcheuer understands the business of defence much better thau we do, it is expedient to waive sentimental objections to ii. Once we begin pulling his proposals

to pieces we shall get off our feet, ami the old military shams will he perpetuated.