MILITIA TITLES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7141, 20 April 1885, Page 3

MILITIA TITLES.

Sib,— l have read a good deal of late about war and rumors of war as likely to lake place between Old England and the Russians. We may not be called upon to measure our strength at the present time with the Bear, but sooner or later that will be forced upon England, even though there is peace on this Afghanistan affair, and when we have to strike I feel confident that every man will strike home from the shoulder, and victory will be sure. In consequence of these alarms the Australian colonies have been led to see their defenceless condition and to bestir themselves in putting their houses in order by looking to their defences, and New Zealand has made a move in the same direction, which h as it should be. " It is never too late to mend " even our crooked ways. But one action of tho Government has rather surprised me, as I look upon it as a move in the wrong direction — that is, the wiping out of the old militia officers under the rank of major. 1 have tho pleasure of knowing a number of them who in the past have rendered good service to their Queen and ungrateful New Zealand. The greatest number have been under fire ; some have received wounds in fighting to defend our hearths arid homes ; many have impaired their health also, and lost also in purse. What had they to show for their services? — the titles of captain, lieutenant, or ensign. And this small favor, or rather right, is taken from them by perhaps the advice of a man of yesterday. Is this right 1 Is such treatment likely to make gentlemen anxious to take such responsibility upon themselves ? When they consider the treatment their old defenders received what security have they that they will not be dealt with in the same manner? It also brings up certain questions. The militia officers received their commissions from the Queen, or from an officer accredited by j Her Majesty to issue such commissions in her name. Now, can these commissions be cancelled without Her Majesty's authority ? I believe it is usual ia the service when the employment of such officers is not required to place them on the retired list, and generally they get a step of promotion when that is done. I look upon that as an acknowledgment of services rendered. Look on that and look on this. Another question of importance. Will those gentlemen reduced from the rank of commissioned officers to that of privates be liable to serve as privates in the militia, if such is called out ? An officer retiring from Her Majesty's service can be called out, but must get the same rank he held in the army. I have no fear in my mind that the people of New Zealand would act in the future otherwise than they have done in the paßt— -that is, turn out to a man if needed. It is a different spirit moves the people to that which stirs New Zealand statesmen. Many of the disfranchised have served with honor in the Imperial army ; what will Imperial officers think ? I wonder, also, what the other colonies think of it ? I don't think any of them would have done so. If there were any obnoxious members they could have been shelved in a more gentlemanly way. — I am, &c, Okb Who Served. P. S.— l never heard of an officer being cashiered unless by sentence of a court martial for some charge or other unbecoming the character of an. officer and a gentleman. What was the charge against the before-mentioned militia officers ?