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head of population is under one-tenth of what is paid by an inhabitant of the British Isles on the naval and military defence of the Empire.

The Committee, however, recognizing the paramount importance to Canada of carrying out costly public works, look rather to a better organization than to increased expenditure for an improvement in the military condition of the Dominion.

4. Page 1.—It would seem to be for consideration of the Canadian Government whether a central Government clothing factory might not be convenient and economical in view of the considerable amount of clothing annually issued.

5. Page 2.-It would appear advisable to limit as soon as possible the rifles and carbines used for practice to those of 303" and 45′′ calibre, and to call in and send to store all other patterns. Eventually the 303′′ calibre should be the only one recognized for military rifles in Canada.

6. A general scheme for a central arsenal (including clothing factory) and stores, with smaller local workshops, and arrangements for supplying armourers, artificers, saddlers, &c., to the various districts seems desirable. It is not clear from the Report to what extent this exists.

7. Pages 11 to 13.-The manufacture of 303-inch cordite ammunition has been satisfactorily started in Canada. So long, however, as the Colony is dependent on supplies of cordite from England, the making of ammunition would be liable to temporary interruptions in the event of war. The establishment of a cordite factory in Canada such as has been proposed for Australia would do away with this possible danger.

8. Puge 15.-The proposal of the General Officer Commanding the Canadian militia to extend the employment of the permanent force in the training of the active militia is an excellent one. It is by such employment of a small permanent force that the Swiss militia has attained to its recognized high state of efficiency. A reduction in the authorized establishment of the permanent force from 1,072 on the 30th June, 1895, to 748 on the 30th December, 1896, seriously decreases the value of the force for training or other purposes.

9. Pages 16 to 18.-Further excellent proposals of the G.O.C. are that it should be firmly established that the whole active militia should be drilled annually, that the rearmament of the whole of the field artillery should be gradually completed, that suitable employment should be more generally found for graduates of the Royal Military College, and that there should be a properly organized staff and departments for the Canadian army.

On the last point which was strongly urged by the Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 6 of their Memorandum No. 59 M, of the 27th March, 1896, the General Officer Commanding intends to submit definite proposals. The Committee would desire to have an opportunity of examining these proposals when received.

10. Pages 27 to 34.-The Report of the Commandant of the Royal Military College is mainly a reply to criticisms, of which the nature is not specified. This is not very useful, and it would have been better if some further information had been given on the subject of the provision that is now made, and should, in the Commandant's opinion, be made in the future for the employment of graduates of the college.

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

(Signed)

July 13, 1897.

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Colonial Defence Committee.

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