DISBANDED!

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 7

DISBANDED!

WELLINGTON SUBMARINE MINERS THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION CRITICISED. The dlsbandirient of the Wellington Submarine Mining Volunteers has been decided upon. Officers and men will be eligible to join a new corps to be known as No. 3 Company Vcarrison Artillery Volunteers (electric light section). The maximum strength has/been fixed at 50, and tho minimum at 25. Tho new corps is to go into camp in February with No. 2 Company (Wellington Naval Artillery). Wo have received the following letter on tho abovo subject:— Dear Sir,—ln the latest District Orders I notice that the abovo corps are about to'be disbanded. In connection with this corps Mr. Fisher, M.H.R., recently stated in the House that the Miners were still in a state of mutiny. This is not so, as a glanco at tho parade states of recont dates show. As a member of tho corps now disbanded by the Government, I would like to say that, as far as I am able to judge, the members are all bitterly disappointed at tho action of the Government, as they have for some time past bedn assiduously practising signalling —a most important branch of sorvico work— and possibly have no superiors in this department in New Zealand. This is'the company that two years ago established a rocord in signalling for Australasia (securing

198 points out of a possible 200), and tliay won tho Challengo Shield last year. It seems a scandal that such a lino, enthusiastic body of men should bo disbanded suddenly without consulting tho company which has such a brilliant record. It is a poor reward for tho time, study, and energy which has been thrown into the work, particularly as a recent troublo was being rapidly obliterated. I noto that the duties of tho company to bo formed in placo of tho one disbanded aro to bo limited to elcctric light work, which is a branch that has not been given tho attention that signalling has in tho past, and which has been hitherto studied by about oneseventh of those who have taken up signalling. Is it not possible, even at this lato dnto, for the Government to allow tho annual camp of instruction, which was to cominoiieo to-morrow, to bo carried ont? The men had even gone so far ns to order supplies for tho camp, and mako individual arrangements, and it seems a pity that that work should bo thrown to tho winds. Right through tho unfortunate troublo that was recently experienced tho Government showed an entire lack of backbone in settling what was a serious matter, and now that tho affair has blown over, as far ns tho men aro concerned, to have taken this clumsjvnnd drastic course of action seems to mo an admirable way of discouraging tho members from taking up work in the now corps, and in volunteering generally.—l am, ote., SERGEANT. Novombor 20.