THE SUPPLY OF RECRUITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4405, 1 April 1876, Page 3

THE SUPPLY OF RECRUITS

The Times discusses at considerable length various proposals of its correspondents for improving the position of private soldiers, apdi rendering.tbe army more attractive, but concludes that when everything is done, there will probably be always some difficulty, in a country offering so many occupations as our own, in recruiting steadily and regulaily from young men of the age of eighteen, and upwards. The supply of men must necessarily vary with the state of the labour market; and it would be of the greatest advantage if we could provido a kind of permanent store of young soldiers upon whom we could draw for the purpose of filling up deficiencies in the ranks. Why for this put pose should we not resort to the plan which has worked so successfully iv the Navy, and, so to speak, breed Eoldiers au we do sailors ?. Institutions could be established which would furnish boys who might be fed and. trained to make firotrato soldiers. The difficulties in training them which have been overcome in the one service could be overcome in the other ; and it would at least be worth trying whether such a constant source of supply to the ranks could not be provided. Justice is not at pro* sent dona to-our military system. We are on the right oou.rse; but we have to adapt thei methods- of administration devised for the army of old days to the necessities of the army of the present.