OUR DEFENCES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4724, 19 July 1890, Page 4

OUR DEFENCES.

STRONG CONDEMNATION OF VOLUNTEER OFFICERS. (DAILY TIMES' COP.KE ; rONDEXT). Welu>-gto>-, July 17. The New Zealand Defence Report was laid on tha table to-day. I; refer 3 at caneiderable length to facta already made public, and recommends various measures for the improvement of our forces. There has been ma-ked improvement both in the drill and efficiency of garrison artillery, and th*t fact is favorably commented on by Major-General Edwards. Continuing, the report says :—ln order that the senior grades of the force may keep up, officers of artillery will bsi reqjired to undergo annual examination and classification in practical and theoretical knowledge, so (hat the high standard so requisite in a small force may be maintained ; and it is anticipated that the adoption of this course will not only produce thoroughly efficient gunners bat will also provide a class of instructors who will be of incalculable value when called upon to deal with partially trained men who may, la time of emergeocy, be do:ailed for duties iu the batteries. Although there was a slight increase (34) in the numerical strength of the V.ilanteer force 3 on the 31 *t December, 1889, as compared with 18S8, notwithstanding the diabandment or conversion into rile club 3 during the year of no fewer than 17 corps, " the f >ct that out of 7651 men on the rolls, only 5779 earned capi'.atioD, doe 3 not," says the report, "admit of the results for the year being deemed very satisfactory." This is attributed to absence from daylight drills. Cjlodbl Humfray strongly recommends tbo adoption of the partially paid system ic operation in the Australian colonies. The training of Naval Volunteers appears to be f >r from satisfactory. Out of a strength of 9-51 at the four centres, the following number of Naval Volunteers were parsed as efficient iu submarine mining and artillery work, and received the extra LI and badge of efficiency : ,—Efficient—, Strength. Sa >.» rinß H««fl tl ' s mining, gun drill

It will be aeon that the results as regards heavy gnn drill are practically nil. Ou this subject Colonel Humfray Bays : " I strongly urge that vigorous measures ba ndopted with regard to the_ corps which do not qualify for tbo duties for which they have been selected." Commenting on the large proportion of absentees from encampment camps, Colonel Humfray says :—" The excuses furnished by absentees for non-attendance embraced every conceivablo plea, from ' la grippe' to the attractions of the Danedin Exhibition. Inability to obtain leave from employers was noticeable by its frequency." He adds :—"The public generally do not lock upon Volunteering with any special favor. The movement consequently suffers from this apathy, and although these remarks may not apply with equal force to every district, yet, there are very few in which great difficulty Is not at times experienced by the Volunteer in getting the necessary leave from his employer to attend to his duties. I am even credibly informed that it is the rule in many large business firms to make a condition of employment that the employees should not belong to the force." Colonel Hume, reporting on the Volunteer efficere of the colony, «»ys :—"The

officers aa a rule Beem to be entirely deficient In that control and influence over those under their command, the absence of which must prove disastrous on active Bervlce. They are uncertain and nervous when Issuing orders they feel may not be palatable to their rank and file, and many are absolutely afraid to inflict fines on their men as provided for in the regulations, and consequently efficiency snffers. Those under their command are of conrse not slow in discerning these weaknesses, and the result ia too often apparent. Again, when called out to drill their companies, many officers know neither what to do nor what words of command to give, unless the auff drill instrucor is close at band to prompt. Ia the absence of Buch assistance, if any movements are executed tht-y are usually aimless, and too often at variance with the instructions in the drill books." Referring to the non-commis-sioned officers, besays they sbowaslight Improvement generally during the past year. They do not, however, realise to any appreciable extent the necessity, when on duty, of maintaining their positions and gaining from those over whom they are placed the confidence, respect, and obedience their stripes demand. The power to command, which is so essential to their positions as non-commissioned officers, is entirely lost by their desire to shield the shortcomings of their subordinates, and discipline is mnch weakened by their ignorance of drill, military customs, and procedure. He urges that. " the New Zealand Volunteers should be placed under the command of an officer still serving in the army who will be able to devote bis time to their training and organisation. What Is wanted is a modern, scientific soldier, who, after a limited period of service in the colony, say five years, would rejoin his regiment, and be replaced by another Imperial officer of similar standing, by which means New Zealand wonld secure a succession of commanders always abreast of the latest military developments."

1 uckUud 321 24 0 Wellington •212 46 0 Dtmcdin 278 0 1 Lyttoltoa 140 0 0