OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4638, 12 June 1880, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

TO THE —OITOB OF THE PBESS. Sib, —Will you kindly permit mc to make publio a few facts in connection with volunteering in Christchuroh, as I feel convinced that by doing bo you will be conferring a benefit-on the Volunteers themselves and a service on the publio generally who, I take it, are more or le_s interested in whatever affects the national progress in this country. Speaking as one who has travelled from the North Cape to the Bluff, and who is thoroughly acquainted with the chief centres of population, I unhesitatingly say that Christchurch bears unfavorable comparison with many other parts of the colony in respect to its Volunteers. Setting aside the numerical aspeot of the question, they are decic-dly inferior to the Thames, Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and Invercargill Volunteers. This has been shown on several occasions, notably at the late review on the Christchuroh racecourse, when ample opportunity was afforded of judging by comparison. Our men made a sorry figure in many instances, albeit they possessed on the whole physical advantages as great as any of the companies in the field, and among them are many men of considerable military experience and training. The same result may have been noticed (without the same chance of comparison) on numerous occasions when the men have been called out for battalion drill, to show off (alas for them !) before some military magnate on a visit to the town. The battalion parade before General Davidson was the last occasion on which Christchurch was enabled to make an exhibition of its incapacity in this respect. This brings mc to the pith and marrow of what I have to say. That is, to show that the blame of. this, unfortunate state of things—whioh has obtained for Christchuroh an unenviable reputation—does not rest with the men or the subaltern officers, but with some of those in command of them. Without trespassing upon the forbidden ground of personality, so much may be said, that in fact the Tito Barnacle principle of "how not to do it "has seemed to. enter largely into the management of volunteer matters in Christchuroh. It is for the volunteers themselves to effect a remedy. They know where the shoe pinches, if any credit is to be attached to expressions of opinion from a number of them, and the matter is in their own hands. Our volunteers are, as a rule, badly offioered, and that is at the root of all the inefficiency which is too glaringly apparent in the volunteer system of this town. A thorough reorganisation is necessary before we can ever, hope to hold our own with other parts of the colony, and I believe that in making this assertion I Bhall be supported by the great majority of the volunteers. I have approached this subject, not from any desire to air a grievance, nor from any wish to see myself: in "print," hnt from an ; honest desire to effeot amendment and create a spirit of pride and emulation, which once routed generally will of its own accord work the re* volution in our volunteer system which is so much needed. No one can doubt the importance, in a national sense, of the military organisation which is growing throughout New Zealand, and has already assumed large proportions. And it is to the interest of everyone to see that there shall be no weak place in any part of suoh an organisation.' In this spirit I have written, and _ with your assistance, Sir, I shall have succeeded merely in drawing attention to the subject, I shall feel that T have been enabled to effeot some good, however small. Yours, &0., Tht-D Wai_atos.