MANNING THE ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 290, 17 October 1864, Page 6

MANNING THE ARMY.

We fnd oiirsi'lvrs at the present moment engaged in a discussion which once more reproduces the arguments and suggestions of a controversy long gone by. The problem of Manning tho Navy was accomplished some years ago ; but the topic, it seems, lias only been dropped to make room lor the question of Planning tue Army. Those who remember the former discussion wiil recognise in liie correspondence which we have recently published all tho old familiar statements and opinions. \Ve aro now told, precisely as we were told ten ycais since, that the (Queen's pay is good pay, if it were but properly applied; that what the pub ie provides for tho maintenance of the service consutnles a liberal provision, if the soldier did but know it; that he actually rccoives, in ouo way

or another; far moTe than could be earned by an agricultural labourer, but that his receipts arc so confused between " pay" and " allowances" and so curtailed by stoppages and deductions, that the liberality of the nation eludes his perception. A soldier, we are assured, actually costs the country between l'ls. and 15s. a week, whereas he obtains in tlie shape of money only 2d. a, day.. This is one of the old arguments, revived and repeated word for word ; tho moral, of course, being that wo should reform this part of the system, and pay tho soldier in a coin which ho understands. He knows tlio difference between Is. and Is (id. a day, but ho takes little account of cheap supplies and contingent privileges. Give him his dues in ready money instead of disguised advantages, and he will bo ablo (o compare his earnings with those of a ploughboy or an apprentice. A second argument is this—that a distinction should bo established between ordinary and ablo-bodi'ed soldiers. We borrow the terms from the Navy for application to tho Army; but tho meaning is, that in tho profession of arms, as well as all other professions, a trained and experienced man is worth more than a young beginner. That this is actually tho case no one can deny; and yet we iict as if no such difference of'values existed. A soldier who hits served for ten years, who is well disciplined, thoroughly acquainted with his business, and inuicd to all the trials of military life, is held to bo worth no more than a raw recinit. We really make not the slightest distinction between the two candidates for employment. We offer them oxactly the same terms. The soldier of ten years standing is invited to re-enlist on conditions not a bit superior to those by which a young lad, with all liis business to leam," is attracted from the plough. Lastly, after these and other arguments have been put before us, we are assured, exactly in tho old style, that we need not be apprehensive of increased estimates; that there is 100 m for largo retrenchments without injury to the service; that enough can be saved out of "establishments" to provide for any augmentation of pay, and that nothing is wanted but a mere judicious distribution of existing means. Wo can only say to all this, that as tho difficulty was succcsc fully surmounted on the first occasion, we hope wo may be as fortunate now ; but in the meantime we may point out one circumstance which gives a peculiarity to the ease at present before us. Tho question ol' Manning the Army is complicated by a mi go increase in tlio demand. This was not the case with the Isavy , on tlio contrary, the tendency was, and still is, rather towards reduction than increase in tho number (.1' men required. The crew of a first-late is not above half as numerous as that of an old firstrate man-of-war, and the squadrons themselves will ei nsist of fewer vessels. But in tho army we have 131 battalions of infantry to recruit instead of 101— a very large augmentation; and at the same timo we have exchanged a system of continuous service for ono of limited enlistment. Perhaps wo should mention, too, as a special difficulty in the military problem, that one of our best recruiting grounds has been impoverished by emigration. If the calculations made by Lord ClanrJcarde the other day' were accurate. America is earryir.g off from Ireland every six wuks as many men as would suliiee for tho mair.te teiiance of our whole establishment throughout the year. Lvtn the numbers returned by the Emigration CY.mmiisicns show a drain nearly equivalent, to the annual wants of tho Army. However, we must take things as they are, and we ccitainly think that in two leading suggestions olicit< dby the pic-sent controversy our escape from the difficulties impending lies. "We think tliesoldier should be paid according to his professional value, as that value increases, and paid on a plain, inelligible system at all times. Let liim see all that he gets. It was leprosented over and over again in the case of tlio Jsuvy that the Queen's sen ice could be always outbidden by other services at a mcie trifling cost in hi/ pay. A very few extra shillings, so long as they were due in hard cash at the month's end, would turn the tcale against twice as much offered in the shape of allowances or contingencies. ■ s o let the soldier understand his pay ;uid handle it. 01 ce uite he really gefs all his due as it is, but the time amount may not be clear to a lad estimating the advantages of tho seivice. Perhaps it may be desirable (o make enlistment more of a deliberate engagiment and lets of a sudden baigain than formerly, to invito recruits more by prospective pay than by present bounty. We have repeatedly explained that the bargain offered by the State to the recruit is iu reality agordone. It must be remembered that he is i n unskilled labourer, taken leam his trade at the public expense, and charged nothing for the instruction ; indeed, wo can baldly- put this plainer than by an appeal to the very examples anticipated at this minute. We arc told, and with reason, that we cannot expect many of our soldiers to bo contcnt with their position at the expiration of their first tei moi enlistment. J Ik l tell years' man is a very diflerent being from the raw lad picked up by the sergeant. Besides his mastery over his immediate profession, he haa been educated in mind and bodv. lie lias been to school, and lias been well taught. His ideas have been enlarged, and lie iias acquired habits ol discipline, obedience, and fidelity. Such a man is of value anywhere, and may look for more than his 13d. a day from any appreciative master. Granted ; but then let us inquire who made this mini what he is. At who.-e expense and by what agency was the village scamp or the loutish farm servant turned into the trained, intelligent, and trustworthy man. All this increase of personal value was given by the State, and the dil!'erenee between what the man "was and what he is is simply the measure of his actual gain over and above his daily pay. We are convinced, however, that it is worth our while to buy this man at, liis proper value. We must buy the recruit fust and the soldier afterwards—first get the men, and then keep them. If necessary, we must offer belter terms, but. though there is no cioubt about the increased demand lor labour, and the improved remuneration which it commands, we are assured, nevertheless, that tl.e amount actually provided for the soldier under various forms of pay and allowances is suilicient for the purpose of first, recruiting, if judiciously applied. The t ruined soldier may fairly look at the expiration of a given period of service for belter terms than he got at first. That is so plain that it needs no argument. Ko doubt the improvement has been accomplished in the service it-sell, but that docs not ailect the fact. A complete soldier is worth more to us in common market value than a recruit. He can get more—at least, so it is thought— in Other callings, ahd it is reasonable, tneretore, that he should look for more il'he cont-iiiuc'S his own. Ai all events, here are two plain principles inviting notice and trial. Give thu young recruit in a tangible shape what you intend to give him ; and when he has acquired skill iu his calling give him something more. We think these suggestions arcvery iilcely to assist us materially in Manniu" the Army.—Times, Juno 16.