New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4215, 23 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1874.

When Major .Gordon inspected the Volunteers of this Colony, he was frequently met with complaints of the Regulations that were in force. Some Volunteers were waiting for new ones to be issued ; but, said the Major, they did Hot"ffeem to have. any clear idoa whore the old ones were in fault, or what additions might be advantageously substituted. In fact, this formed as grave a portion as any of the Major’s report. Volunteer officers and privates did not, in some instances, seem to know what the Regulations were which the corps should conform to ; and consequently things had been carried on in a very loose fashion. The officers know, of course, that capitation fees could be drawn for their men, and they certified to the necessary returns for the procuration of these, just as a mere matter of form. The fact had been overlooked that the 24th Section of the Volunteer Act of 1865, which prescribed the amount of the capitation fee, directed that it should be paid to efficient Volunteers. Then the 36th Clause of the Regulations decided who might bo deemed effioientVolunteors. Artillerymen, riflemen, engineers, and members of naval corps, had to attend seven parades during the year, and five other parades or drills, and also possess a knowledge of squad and company drill, before their efficiency might bo certified to. The artillerymen were required to possess a knowledge of gun drill and the general duties of a gunner; the engineers to be instructed in sapping and mining and the mode of making gabions and fascines, and the naval volunteers had to possess, a knowledge of gun drill, of the general duties of a gunner, and - of the management of a boat cither by sailing or rowing. The cavalry, in ■ addition to; attending the parades had to possess a knowledge of the cavalry sword exercise and mounted

and dismounted troop drill. Major Ludlam. it will be recollected by our readers, on being asked why his company did not possess a knowledge of squad and company drill, said that he only permitted it to be practised in such movements as he considered would be useful on service. Major Gordon wondered how Major Ludlam could, under such circumstances, certify that the members of lua corps were efficient in the meaning of the term prescribed by the Regulations, and draw the capitation fees for them accordingly. Although the Major who inspected could not understand why Volunteers, who seemed to have never read the Regulations, should clamor for new ones, the Government hastened to meet the diffi.culty by issuing some which were gazetted last week, and will, we understand, be issued in pamphlet form for the guidance of the various corps throughout the Colony. After comparing the new with the old ones, we are impelled to the conclusion that there is very little difference between them —rather a distinction than a difference. Where one has been made it has been, apparently, because the circumstances of the Colony are altered rather than by reason of anj r radical defect in the old rules. The number of inferior officers is made smaller in a minimum corps, and greater in a maximum one ; and both the minimum and maximum strength are increased. The regulations defining the precedence officers are entitled to are rather condensed than altered, and candidates for a captaincy, or for a first commission under the rank of a „n r in;u ii lv lnrgo rather a severer test than they did. “Instead of the non-commis-sioned officers being elected, as _iyas formerly the case, they will be appointed by the commanding officers ; and the clause is struck out which made musketry instructors take rank as senior sergeants. The arrangements for a certificate of efficiency are considerably simplified. Artillery, engineer, rifle, and naval volunteers are required to attend six inspection and six company parades during the year before they are entitled to the capitation grant; and if they attend half of these, they will receive half of it—provided, in both cases, that they have received certificates of efficiency. The cavalry must drill twice a day lor six consecutive days daring the year, and also parade halfyearly for inspection, before becoming entitled to the fee ; but they may earn half of it as may the infantry, and they must have their certificates. Corps containing less than twenty-five efficient members on the 31st of March, during any year, are liable to bo disbanded, and' may not claim for capfitation. Officers commanding cadet corps will receive _sub- , stantive instoad of commissions, and other officers will receive letters of appointment. Instead of the returns being made to the Inspector, they are to bo rendered to the Under-Secretary for the Volunteer and Militia Branch of Defence. The above comprises notice of nearly every alteration that will be effected. In most, if not in all instances the Volunteers will recognise the alterations as improvements. As the circumstances of the country undergo a change, so also may, very reasonably, those of the Volunteer Force. Years ago, when the Force was created, there was a constant possibility that its members might have to proceed to active service at the shortest notice. Now there is scarcely the ghost of a probability of such a state of things occurring. , And, as a matter of course, the Government is justified in somewhat relaxing Regulations that jyero felt to b 6 vq^ ul y stringent. If the Force "cairac- .-rendered more attractive by this, so, much the better for New Zealand. Tho services of the corps should not, as . Major Gordon said, be “forgotten, or lightly esteemed.” And, even now, the safely of the entire population is very much in the keeping of the Volunteers. If, as in come continental countries, nearly every adult male had to undergo drill, so that he might form an unit of an army if required, there would be no fo.ar of internal warfare in this country, or foreign attack of it. Then would be carried out in its fullest and indeed truest extent, that policy of self-reliance, which has done so much for New Zealand in the past. And, the mere handful of sovereigns that the Force costs the Colony is not worthy of a moment’s consideration. It is a mere honorarium—a pure acknowledgement. It defrays tho expenses of voiy few members of the corps in the dibliarge of their duties. And if, after five years’ service, they are entitled to,set"'ofr thirty pounds in the purchase of land, we maintain, that they ought to be dealt liberally with in respect to such servjcp,, :ia For, let it, be remembered, they have their negative as well as their positive usbs. They furnish officers that, in the unhappy event of war, would be able to efficiently lead much larger forces into the field. They supply instructors who would, in the shortest possible time, convert the rawest Militia into a trained soldiery,' and the corps form a nucleus that would bo of inestimable advantage for the adult male population to rally around,. if : need arose, to defend hearths and homes against attack. Therefore wo argue that tho Government has done wisely in seeking to amend tho Regulations, and to make them more in accordance with the tastes of tho various corps and tho general community, even though the necessity for tho change did not appear very pressing.