VOLUNTEER IRREGULARITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 8084, 7 December 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

VOLUNTEER IRREGULARITIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—ln last night's issue of your paper a volunteer district order appeared cancelling the parade of the Rifle Battalion, which was to have been held the same evening as the order appeared. Now, Mr Editor, is it not very unfair that men should be brought from Whare Flat, Mount Cargill, Peninsula, and other outlying districts, and then to find that the parade was postponed on account of the arrival of an Irish delegate!? There muit be something wrong, and the sooner the Defence Department makes inquiries as to how the volunteers are treated in this district the better; because if things go on as they are going, and men humbugged in this manner, the Government will have to provide for the militia. I will quote something to you, sir: Some months ago a battalion parade was called. Every corps ordered out attended—except one. They got leave from parade because a distinguished person was to arrive that same evening. Now don't you think someone is playing ducks and drakes with the volunteers ? lam happy to say lam not a volunteer, or else I might jib on it. Hoping, in the interest of those men who devote their time to volunteering, that something will be done to prevent a recurrence of what took place last evening—l am, etc., N.E.V. Dunedin, December 6.