THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 6

THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

In point of numbers the volunteer defenders of the Dominion arc a diminishing quantity. The annual report of the Council of Defence laid before Parliament this week shows a substantial falling' off in the strength of the volunteer corps, arid is not particularly encouraging in the views expressed on the subject of efficiency. In some quarters greatj things were expected from the creation of a Council of Defence to replace- the olcl system of a single commandant in charge, of. the forces. With a predominance of; -colonial officers on the council it wai considered that the tender susceptibilities! of the volunteer forces would be less frequently lacerated than under the old regimo of imperially-trained officers; that the • whole volunteer movement would be fostered; a new spirit of enthusiasm infused; and an all-round improvement effected both as to the numerical strength and as to the efficiency of the forces. These expectations' have been realised in part only. We believe that there has been, improvement in some directions, and that progress has been made in the matter of attention to equipment, transport, etc. But the volunteer himself does not appear to be any more enthuj siastic than of old—he is not more frequent in his attendance at drill; he still shirks the encampments and daylight parades; he is ■■ still satisfied to oarn his." capitation with a minimum of serviced Probably.his efficiency is a little higher;': but his numbers are less, and this seems 'j to point to the fact that the extra effort required to attain to this higher state of; efficiency has proved too much for th<( less enthusiastic. The Council of Dofencd demands istill higher efficiency, and as this desirable state is to be reached by means of daylight parades—the bugbear of volunteers—a still further falling off may be expected. The solution of the trouble is not easily found. One method of stimulating enthusiasm amongst volunteers is to institute competitions of a nature likely to interest both the public and the volunteer himself. Introduce competitions between squads and companies, and battalions; 'arouse a spirit of rivalry in drill, in marching, in manoeuvring; get the men to tako a pride in their company because of its achievements in some given direction. Hold these competitions regularly—frequently —and handy to town, so that the public can attend and by their presence add stimulus to the competitors. Once, accustom the men to turning out to these parades', and there will not bo much difficulty in working in a little solid instruction. The Council of Defence evidently is looking for some means of stimulating) the enthusiasm of the volunteer forces,•' let it try this experiment.- ' 'I