THE VOLUNTEER FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 7

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE.

ARBPLY TO COLONEL DAVIES.

(FnOM OTO OWN CQERISrOIJpENT.)

Auckland, October 12.

: Mr. W. J, Napior, who, is an pffioer of' Volunteers, animadverta strongly in a letter to.ij local paper npon he calls |ho " insolent .ifefprenpp,"; by , Colonel'Qavies, at Ghristehurch tq the .Volunteer force , pf the pqminiqh as weeds, This, i\ii. Napier: thinks, deserves an emphatic protest, whiqh ho pro, cqeds tq.^aj^:—"Tho Volunteers of thja Dorninion," }io. \yritea," " arq a fii\o body of men both in physiq\io and ihtelljgonqo, and they; compare. , favourably withßritiah troops, and. bvoivwith Gprm,an rpsorvos. yeai'.in and year out, ftt'a sacrifioo of-time 1 and nionoy, mir citizen sqldiors of all ranks givp their sprrjoes ungrudgingly tq thp State, ; an,d I 'am : Sa.tisfiecV that, jf tlipy 'aro fajrly treated in thP wj»y of equipment, tnoy wjil (\iifii all thp needs of this count-y as a defensive force for many years to come. Colonel Davies is a auryeyqr; frpm.llawora, and is at present Inapootor of the Forces. \Vhon professional In command of the military forces of the Pqminiqh,.thp Vqluuteors wer,q not inpHlteil, .but o.nce.uraged, : Colonel Dayies's ac(ivqoaoy qf a mpttor p{ piiblio policy, viz., the compulsory military training of all citizens, 'should.engage the attention of tho Defence Tjip reg\ilations do , not permit tlofanco ofl'ipers to. talk politics in pijbljc, and lit is very inatlyißablo for paid officials tq in;tnido ,intq. the 'domain of .'controversial .politics./ There is a systpma..tio attempt on ■,the.part ef portain.membbrs of the Defence : Offloe. to icoofce the oolqny into an entirely eygtem qf coippulspry military 'sorvico." " . •