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Sir Henry Parkes, K.C.M.G.

fortifications have cost us a great deal of money, and are, we think, pretty effective, and I think we would be foolish if we did not keep a sufficient force to attend 19 May, 1882. to those fortifications:

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5701. We have had before us a question on which there has been a remarkable unanimity of feeling by all the Australian representatives who have given evidence to us, that it would be of very great advan- tage that an Imperial officer of considerable rank and undoubted military knowledge and capacity, should be appointed to the Australian Colonies for a certain period, say five or six years, who should proceed from one Colony to another, and should ascertain exactly what the state of military organization was, who should also make his work not merely complimentary and perfunctory, but real. It would be a great satisfaction to know that you concurred generally in such a notion? -To some extent we have started in that direction. We agreed to contribute towards the support of Sir William Jervois' examination of the Colonies, and the way we should carry out our works of fortification, and we have now agreed to contribute severally to the expense of another officer, Colonel Scratchley. But if an officer of that character which you indicate were to be appointed, I think a very great deal would depend on the man himself.

5702. Of course, so far as the question of expense went, the charge would be divided amongst the several Colonies, and the officer would be chosen by the military authorities in this country, with special reference to his personal qualifications for the place ?—I can readily conceive two men of equal rank and reputation as to their military qualifications, yet one would be very acceptable to the Colonies and not the other.

5703. But assuming that you could get the right man for such a place, it would, I suppose, tend to raise the tone of discipline ?-I should think it would have a very beneficial effect. The Commission must be aware that there is a considerable striving, between some of the Colonies at least, to be first in any arrangement of that kind, and the desire to be first generally begets another desire not to be second.

5704. Our notion is that his business should be to proceed from Colony to Colony, to make himself acquainted with all that is going on from a military point of view, to conduct periodical inspections, and to advise and act on military questions and questions of discipline. In time of peace he would not perform any act of executive command or interfere with the local Commandants. But in time of war he would assume the supreme direction of military affairs in the Colonies; I suppose that such a scheme generally seems to you a reasonable and desirable one if it can be brought about ?—I think that I should fall in with that, as far as I am concerned, as the best arrangement that could be made.

5705. Do you think that the present state of things in Australia would warrant the attempt to establish a Central School such as they have in Canada for the training of officers?—I have not given any attention to that subject in the shape in which you put it to me. But on the first blush of the subject I should say it would be a good thing. I understand your question to be whether I should be in favour of the establishment of what I think I should call a military college?

5706. Quite so.-I think it would be a very good thing.

5707. Have you got at present a sufficient supply to feed the college with? I think the supply would grow. I think there would be a disposition on the part of many of the good families that their sons should train for the military profession, if we had a proper training establishment.

5708. A large part of that military training, such as engineer's work, would be applicable to civil life?—Yes; that was in my thoughts when speaking, that it might be supplemented by useful kinds of training which might not be antagonistic to military training, but on the contrary, would be very kindred to military training.

5709. Do you suppose if that sort of military

college or school were set up in one Colony that it would be used by other Colonies; because clearly there is hardly a sufficient supply to make it desirable to establish a college in each Colony? I should be altogether opposed to the idea, and it would be premature to establish a college for one Colony: it can only be done for the whole of the Colonies; and with regard to the larger question of federation, I look for the co-operation of the Colonies on single questions, such as the one you have now started as leading up to a general confederation. I can see no reason or ground for anticipating strong objection on the part of any of the Colonies; and I think I can answer for New South Wales that if any position as the site for such an institution were shown to have a greater number of advantages than any other position, we should not object to its being in another Colony. If it can be shown to be more suitable or more available, we should raise no narrow objection on the ground of this not being in New South Wales.

5710. One of the questions which has been very much before us, is the question of how far the mother- country, and how far a great Colony like New South Wales can or ought to share the burden of common defence, and it is very difficult to lay down anything like a precise definition. But do you concur in this general proposition that I am about to state, viz. :—that it would be the duty, on the one hand for the Colony to provide for its fortifications, its armaments, their maintenance, the land forces necessary to garrison and to give protection to the Colony, and also to any of the Queen's ships that might come into port to repair or refit. And on the other hand, that the Colony would look to the mother-country to defend their trade as she best could by means of the Queen's ships, whether immediately on the coast of Australia or possibly at a distance-wherever, in fact, the fleets could do the greatest mischief to the enemy's cruizers ?—— Well, it is rather a long question, but hitherto it has been a well understood rule, that if the Colonies provided for their land defences, Her Majesty's ships would look after their commerce, which I think most Australians would consider is of as much value to England as to themselves. I am quite sure the public feeling of the Colonies would not be disposed at present to depart from this general understanding and rule. They attach great importance to their trade and its value to England. The trade of the United Australian Colonies, as represented by exports and imports, is between 90 and 100 million sterling, and the Colonies are fast becoming the best customers unitedly that England has, so much so indeed, that if our custom were to be withdrawn by any miracle, it would cause a great deal of distress and stagnation in England. If our custom were suspended for a year, it would cause a disturbance that would astonish the English people. The Colonies hold the opinion that Her Majesty's ships cannot be better employed than in protecting this commerce, and if we, the Colonies, defend ourselves within our own shores, we do as much as can be expected of mere striplings.

5711. Providing, of course, always, every facility for the Queen's ships in the way of repairs, refitting, and protection in harbour?-We do everything we can now in that way, short of paying the cost.

5712. You would look upon that now, no doubt, as an arrangement which was practicable in the present stage of colonial development; but the time may come when a more perfect system may be possible?-If the time were to come when we should share the burdens of the defences of the Empire, we should claim to share all the other things of the Empire. We should claim to be taken into the Empire on equal terms in all respects.

5713. It has been suggested to us by different wit- nesses whether the Colonies might not contribute towards the naval defence of the Empire. I think I may say that the opinion of the Commission is that the time has hardly come yet when that can be done; though it is quite a matter to keep in view in the future. Would that be your own opinion also ?-As far as I can form an opinion, I do not think the public feeling

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