DEFENCE ACT AMENDMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 3

DEFENCE ACT AMENDMENT.

Si:,—l have i.ot read the above' Act, but have'seen your report on the same, and the selection of captains of companies (they ought all to be officers), as proposed, is n step in the right, direction, notwithstanding Messrs. Alalcolm, Hogan, Symcs, and Fisher, M.H.li.'s —the two latter, I believe, olci volunteer captains. I would like to have seen the state of discipline in their corps. What is to stop a man rising from the ranks? The clap-trap' about lower social standing is the same old playing to the gallery, but the gallery is getting pretty well full of t\iat sort of thing. What is killing the volunteer movement more than anything is a , want of discipline. ■ Do something to keep, the old volunteers in the service—they help to steady the younger members. I remember when the volunteers started about lSGO.everyone speedy collapse of the movement for want of discipline, but» what happened ? Why the volunteers themsclvos took steps-to'rectify it. Ask anyone who has seen a largo encampment of Home volunteers of late years what they think of the discipline now. Lower social standing! Why, sir, I remember at 0110 of the Easter manoeuvres meeting a sergeant of the Pioneers, a six-footer, whose income was, I believe, £7000 a year, who, when asked to take a commission, replied "not yet." He was honest enough to admit ho was not then qualified. I am a great admirer and believor in tho volunteers, and would have served with them in any capacity, but the absoluto absence of discipline deterred This is many years ago, but the discipline is little better to-day. Mr. Symcs appears to wish for an animal all tail and no head, a curious position- for a commissioned officer to take un, and I am sorry to say there are many such in tho commissioned rank of the New Zealand Volunteers. Barring being wholly illiterate, there is nothing to keep a man in the'ranks from obtaining a commission. Anyone, in or outside the volunteer ranks, with his eyes and cars open, .must know that in a large majority of eases politics have a 90 per omit, influence in the present system of election of officers, and if you could' obtain the honest opinion,of, all -good and enthusiastic volunteers I feel sure 75 per cent, or more would say so. Thore is a corps not a 100 miles from Wellington, I really believe was tree ' from politics, and it was, and, I t-hinlc, is to-day, one of the best in the Dominion. The Council of Defence is apparently doing good work, and it is the duty' of every officer. M.HiR. or not, to render tliem evcrv assistance.—l am, etc., "A COLONIAL, WHO HAS SERVED THE KJII'IRE." November 11, 1007f