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7. Finally, the Colonial Defence Committee recommend that the various proposals made by Colonel Penton should be considered by the Government of New Zealand, if the revenues do not permit of the whole being immediately given effect to, in the following order :-
(1.) The reorganization of the Colonial forces and their training to a proper standard of efficiency.
(2.) The immediate preparation of a defence scheme; this will not necessarily involve any additional expenditure.
(3.) The completion of details of the fixed defences, such as telephonic com- munication, electric light installations, means for laying mines, &c., which will enable full benefit to be derived from the existing defence matériel.
(4.) The completion of the rearmament of the forces with 303 small arms. (5.) The rearmament of the Field Artillery.
(6.) The provision of the additional heavy guns and works now recommended.
The Committee desire to point out that existing works shoukl not be dismantled or disarmed until the works and armament to replace them are ready on the spot.
(Signed) M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
June 16, 1898.
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