New Zealand's Position.

But now let us look at our position here, and what our probable future must be, if wars take place. What ideal are the youth of New Zealand to set before them as to what their future conduct should be in this country with reference to the exterior world? Generally you will all see this, that you are not like a European nation in one respect. You have no enemies touching your frontier—no enemy near you. You cannot, like Germany, march upon France. There is no France for you to attack. Nor can you, like France, invade the rest of Europe. You have no enemies about you of that kind. But you will require a population able to defend their country from any foe that ventures to attempt to land here, and ventures to attempt to subjugate you to his power. That you Will absolutely require. You must have a population trained to arms to a certain extent. (Cheers.) You must have some kind of permanent force, to some extent, to take care of the defences which you may erect, and what warlike materials you may collect. That will be a necessity. And then can anyone doubt, if you do that, that you can defend your country? That if a few natives defend their country against a great European force for a considerable period of time, would you, when you were a more populous and a more numerous people, fail to defend the same country against any European force that might come here? Who can doubt you would be able to defend yourselves, and your country would be really impregnable? So far you are in safety. But then you may say, what career is open to our young men? What career is there for a legitimate ambition? In what way are they to take a part in the great events of the world, to earn distinction for themselves and to reflect upon us as the nation from whom they come?