THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE.
SOME STRIKING DEFECTS.
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS

NEED OP MODERN WEAPONS AND

UNIFORMITY OF EQUIPMENT.
A "GO-AS-YOU-PLEASE" FORCE.
By "Abtuxebt."

NO. 11.
The task of organising a national defence to protect our harbours so that we may en sure the continuation of our trade during the period of a naval war is surely of suf ficient imyvirtance to us in New Zealand as a mercantile people to engage our most serious attention. Recent events have shown us that with a sufficiency of arms, equip ments, and ammunition, a very considerable force could easily bo made available for service in the colony in a very short period of time, and that provided we had officers of experience to lead and instruct, no one can doubt that our young men would give a good account of themselves.
It is for the supply of these essentials of success—for the offering of suitable in ducements for officers to make a sufficient study of the art of war, for the procuring and maintenance of a sufficiency of arms and ammunition, and for the provision of suitable ranges for practice, fop the organis ing as a department of a sufficient working staff for the administration and instruction of our forces, and for the maintenance of a small, highly efficient force, which shall be always ready—that we look to the Defence Department.
