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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. November 7, 1896.

SECRET.

No. 149 R.

QUEENSLAND.

C. O. No. 20640.

Report by Commandant on Queensland Military Forces for the Year 1895-96.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

IN remarking on the Commandant's Report for the year 1894–95, the Colonial Defence Committee confined themselves to one particular subject which appeared to them most to require the attention of the Government of Queensland, viz.: the necessity for maintaining the Permanent Battery of Artillery at such a strength that it could efficiently carry out its important duties and furnish a relief for the garrison of Thursday Island. The Committee regret to see from the Report now before them, that though there has been a slight increase in the strength of the Permanent Battery since the date of the last Report, its establishment is still fixed at 7 officers and 104 men. The Committee thoroughly endorse the opinions of the Officer Commanding the Battery and of the Military Commandant as to the insufficiency of this number, and they would again press its increase on the Government as the most important military need of the Colony.

2. The next most essential requirement of the forces is, in the opinion of the Committee, the formation of an efficient reserve. They note with satisfaction that the experiment in this direction which is being made in the 1st battalion Moreton Regiment is considered likely to prove a success, and they concur in the Commandant's recommendation that a reserve should also be formed for the remaining Infantry Corps and for the Garrison Artillery. They would like to be informed as to the conditions of service proposed for the Reserve, and also to see the detailed Report showing the minimum required for war, which the Commandant refers to on p. 2 of his statement under con- sideration.

3. The next desideratum for better securing the defence of Queensland is the supply of the two new Q.F. guns recommended by the Commandant for Magazine Island. The Committee are strongly against the augmentation, under present conditions, of the fixed defences of any Australian Colony. At the same time they consider that those that have been provided should he kept in a thoroughly efficient condition. The battery at Magazine Island is under- stood to be armed with two 6-in. B.L. Mark II guns, which, since the "Cordelia" accident, have become practically valueless. It is thought that they might be replaced by two 4.7 inch Q.F. guns. Should this be decided on the Committee recommend that the designs of the existing battery should be sent to England for the War Office to advise as to the most economical manner of mounting the quick-firers.

4. For a reason similar to that which leads them to recommend the pro- vision of these guns, the Committee also think that, when financial conditions

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