xl. New Zealand Institute. 
mines, where applicable; that arrangements be made for utilizing for 
purposes of war the fine merchant-steamers which are capable of being 
so turned to account ; and that the land and naval forces of the colony 
be reorganized, so as to fit them for the duties they would have to per- 
form if called upon for actual service. 
It may, however—and not unreasonably—be inquired, “ But how 
much will all this cost?” Well, not so large a sum as many suppose. 
The whole thing could be done for a capital sum of £400,000. Of 
course, there would also be some annual expenditure, in addition to 
that at present incurred, for maintenance, for ammunition and stores, 
and for the pay of officers and men. I cannot now say what this 
would amount to, but it would not be large. 
Now, I venture to think that, considering the interests at stake, 
the capital sum I have named is a moderate price to pay for the benefit 
it will purchase. Not to mention the amount of the local commerce 
of the colony, the value of the cities to be defended is probably about 
thirty millions sterling. The loss which would be occasioned by one 
attack would far exceed the outlay which would have prevented it; 
and the degradation to which it would subject the country is beyond my 
power to estimate. 
New Zealand, however, at present expends scarcely anything for 
the purpose of resisting foreign aggression, whilst that of other 
States, whose revenue, and imports and exports combined, are about 
the same as hers, is very considerable, For instance, in 1882 the 
naval expenditure alone of the Argentine Republic was upwards of 
£120,000; that of Chili, £244,000 (peace expenditure); that of 
Greece, with a revenue of about £1,600,000 and a commerce of less 
than seven millions sterling, was £133,000. I know that the cir- 
cumstances of these States are, in many respects, different from those 
of New Zealand, and I do not advocate that she should enter into 
competition with them. I do, however, venture to suggest that she 
should not rest content in her present unprotected condition. It is 
not only impolitic, but rash, for her to remain in a passive, defence- 
less state, unprepared to resist aggression, trusting to the forbearance 
of any Power possessing the -means of attack, 
The necessary measures should be taken gradually and delibes 
rately, and should not be deferred for spasmodic action, at a time of 
panie, when steps would be hurriedly taken, which would surely lead 
to useless expenditure, and would, moreover, not effect their object. 
New Zealand is no longer in her infancy, but in the full vigour of 
youth, and I am sure that her people— vital as the question is to 
them—are prepared to incur the burden and the respousibility of 
their defence. 
