VOLUNTEER COMPLAINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 25 January 1901, Page 2

VOLUNTEER COMPLAINTS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Rending a letter in Friday evening's "Star" nigncd "One Who has Passed the Tests" in connection with the treatment of tho.se volunteering for the Sixth Contingent lately formed to do service in South Africa, I would also like to add my experiences in trying to obtain ;i place In that contingent. Boinjr one of the lirst on the scone directly volunteers were called for, i was put through nil the tests necessary for one to pass before being selected, and passed through them nil (the riding tost on two occasions), and was told by the selector (Colonel Hanks) to keep myself in readiness to go into camp. Upon noticing my name was not called on when the first batch was selected, I made it my business to see Col. Banks and nsk for an explanation, when the oniy reply I received was that I should have to wait until culled upon, and not to bother him or I should have my name crossed off the roll. On the last day of rifling tests in the Domain 1 again spoke to Col Banks, and reminded him of having eat through the tests satisfactorily; and'upon being asked where I had worked last. I informed him that I had been surveying in the King Country. He immediately saiu^if I got through the riding test again, which I did, he would put me into camp; but upon Colonel Banks being approached on the subject and finding I was really a town boy, he said ho had now tilled up'all vacancies and that I had no chance of being put hit-) camp at all. Now, sir. do you think this is fair treatment'to receive at tSe hands of one holding the position Colonel Hanks does at present? For my part I think it a disgrace that anyone willing to do service for the Queen should be treated more iike a dog than a human bein- an that I think is the treatment dealt out to morej.ha.wme.^ Thanking you iv anticipaA SECOND WHO HAS PASSKD TUB TESTS.

Sir.-I have noticed a good deal ofocorrospondenco In your valuable columns recently anent the above subject and with your kind permission, I 'should be glad of an opportunity of erdorsing these numerous complaints as a proof of there being "some fire underneath all this smoke." Colaterally with your correspondent "Marksman," I joined the Auckland Infantry Battalion with a view of learning the art of soldiering:, was duly sworn in and handed over a filthy suit of (some other chap's left-ofC) uniform clothing, and an equally dirty hat (needless to add they were well scoured before being donned), and the necessary accoutrements, had a couple of nights' drill (?) by a non-com., who knew very little more than I did, and passed into the company, There I found things very much on a par with the recruit drill. The officers of the corps (no doubt willing to qualify themselves at our expen.se) were new men, and for the last year or so we

have been "fooled," T say deliberately, fOoleti about—taken out on parade and given some most startling orders which were executed by the company, with the aid of the non-commissioned officers, who, I suppose, being extraordinarily intelligent fellows, had some conception of the movement sought to be accomplished; we are then informed we must go through our class-firing, journey to Mt. Eden, and, after repeated trials, some wiaeacre has remembered reading in your columns that the .303 converted is "truly converted," that the sighting is inaccurate and in order to hit the target at 300 yards you must sight for 450; some more ammunition expended, and at last the .rawest recruit gets an outer. Hl^h right," shouts the Sergeant. "I told you sot" says' Bill Brown, "the 'Star' man is right; the sights are d— bad" We fire 10 shots each and mournfully depart cursing the Government for our bad luck; of course, it wasn't our fault. We're all qualified marksmen after that ten rounds, or, rather, we should be it every one had his due. Never"- mind, that job's over for another 12 months. Now we settle down to ordinary work, which consists of the roll-call, and-some practice in Part I. of Infantry Drill ISM. or rather, I think it should be 1999; it really must be so, or else it is obsolete. I have searched for some of the movements in 1899 drill book but cannot drop across them. It must be exceedingly uncomfortable for the poor officer when he is aware of the fact that he has experts criticising his every order, or, is he like most of our townies fully possessed of that colonial acquirement — "colonial cheek." Now for the saddest cut of all. The call to arms is heard, the advertisement says preference given to volunteers, which is just as it should be—some compensation for the valuable time and money the volunteer wastes. We roll up to a man, some of us are passed through, some depart cursing their luck (and the recruiting officer too), others stand by in case of an emergency existing, and numbers of civilians, wearing a pair of ridmg pants and bronzed faced, pass through to the heavenly regions beyond the Hospital to our intense disgust. And then we have the case of "One Who Passed the Tests." Where does he come in? The .recruiting officer, Colonel Banks, accepts him, and he throws up his job on that account. Down comes some more country yokels and out goes our volunteer, and out of a job, to make matters worse. Without going to extremes, I think it a fair thing, seeing our country friends have had five contingents practically to themselves, that the Sixth should be composed of (at least one-half) volunteers now serving In the forces, failing which I can safely predict the disbanding of the existing companies. Then, oh, then, what will become of our Brigade Office and its dependents, to say nothing of the gold lace crowd, i.e., the "hossifers."—l dm> C °" LANCE CORPORAL.

Sir _i would like to suggest to Mr Arnold' Brown and'D.A.A.G.," that the reason country applicants, without training, are taken in preference to volunteers, who are mostly town bred, is that they have had the same natural training that the Boers have, which town tared men have not had. I would also like them to remember that Colonel Roberts, with 100 raw recruits, saved the field when Whitmore was beaten by TitokowaiTT at Wanganul. and that Major "Yon Tempsky's birds of passage were more feared, by the Maoris than 10 times their number of regulars.— I am, etc.. CONTBATA. Waikato.

Sir.-Being- a first-class rider and a good shot, I volunteered for the Sixth Contingent and succeeded in passing all the tests. I was then instructed to be present at the Drill Shed on Friday afternoon, the fourth of January, for the final selection of the men. This meant getting a half-day off from work. On Friday I was selected and went into camp. Of course this meant my giving up my billet, r was in camp twelve days, during which time I had been measured for my uniform' and supplied with a horse, etc. On the thirteenth day, however, one of the instructors came to me and said my presence was no longer required. I then went to the officer in charge of the camp and asked him what I was rejected for. He said he did not know, and that Col. Banks had gone down to Wellington. Before leaving Auckland, however, he had left behind instructions that myself and another man, who, by the way was a chum of mine, were to be put out. I was not satisfied with the treatment I had received, nor was I a few days later when two more men arrived at the camp and actually took our. places. Neither of them was a volunteer, but they belonged to a class who get the preference to a mere volunteer. I fail to see they are any better men than we two rejecteds. Twelve days' work for nothing, a good billet sacrificed, and then passed over and the preference given to two outsiders. But this is not the only case. There are even now men in camp who openly boast of being under height, under chest measurement, and under age. Still, this is no business of mine. I bear them no malice and wish them all success. I am only remarking a fact. I have taken my rejection with good spirit and will now look around for another billet. My mate, however, is apt to be profane, and says that before •he would, try again he would see them in a latitude where higher temperatui-es prevail. Contingenting is a marvellous institution of modern times. Verily it passeth all understanding.—l am, etc.,

Sir.—For ilio benefit of volunteers, would yon kindly insert this letter'in tlie "Star"? We havV a just cause to complain, and wonhl not consider it a disgrace to be coiirt-mnrtialled and gazetted, as we are threatened. One of tbe complaints r.i present is the use of Mount Eden rifle range. About f>o volunteers, including eight noncoms, and' myself, visited the range on Saturday, 19th,. to go through our annual course of class firing, which is compulsory. Well, according to new regulations, no firing is to take place except in the presence of an officer (distinguished by certain stars on.UJs shoulders when in uniform). Mo officer appearing, after waiting from 2 p.m. ti11..4.30 p.m. we left in disgust, especially as this Is the last Saturday on -which the aforesaid men .can flre before the end of the volunteer year. Our day comes once In five weeks, and it is.a downright shame we cannot make use of it. An officer Is appointed for each Saturday to take charge. Where was he? Last Saturday (12th) a colour-sergeant with 20 men waited a considerable time for an officer, so none appearing, went in search of one, causing another hour's delay. The sergeant tooU charge of the firing at the six and five hundred yards, and the officer at nearer ranges —still using the targets (0 by o)instead of the regulation size (a much smaller one), an entirely unprecedented proceeding. As non-coms, have to pass a severe test in musketry at exams., surely they are capable of taking charge of range, especially as n majority of the men possess marksmen's badges. I for one am a holder of badge and .uree years' service star, but intend to send in my resignation at once over this humbugging affair.—l am etc ANOTHER DISGUSTED VOLUNTEER