THE SELECTION OF THE CONTIN GENT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10540, 29 December 1899, Page 4

THE SELECTION OF THE CONTIN GENT.

Wβ are glad , to see the Government has reid lasted to some extent the rigour of the regulations in regard' to volunteers for the Contingent. There is no doubt that the restrictions hitherto imposed, coupled with the absurd practice of not applying any of the tests to the men until they had assembled in ' Wellington, and perhaps thrown .„ up their , appointments, was calculated seriously to discourage men from volunteering, and would have killed the patriotic spirit in any lees loyal-fliearted body of men ' than are to be found in large numbers among our New Zealand forces. When t'he selection of the next Contingent !. ia taken in hand, the question of further: modifying the regu&ations should be seriously considered. . It i» absurd, for example, that ■ a height of sft Bin should be insisted upon. That is far higher than the Imperial standard, which is only sft 4in, both for infantry and mounted infantry. Even for the Husears only sft 6in ie insisted on as , a minimum. Mr. Bowen • very pertinently pointed out in his speech on Wednesday that tried by our New Zealand tests, Lord Roberts, Lord Wolseley, and even the Duke of Wellington would be found wanting, and therefore would be excluded from our Contingent, , While we luliy agree that if possible we ought to send all mounted men,, we realise 4hat it might be difficult at short notice to get 800 men who fulfilled all other requirements, ,and yet were good horsemen as well. If t/hie should prove to be the case, we would send a battalion of infantry, taking, especial oare to select the best marksmen available. This would remove a feeling of injustice keenly felt by our infantry volunteers at present that they are "out of it," and there is tto question that a battalion of good shots from New Zealand would be welcomed by the Imperial authorities. We 'hope that the Government will seriously consider this question.