New Volunteer Bill.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 22

New Volunteer Bill.

Wellington, August 18 to. The Volunteer Bill having passed the Upper House, has been sent down to the House of Representatives for its consideration. Some new clauses have been introduced, the principal being those relating to the recovery of subscriptions or fines, and to penalties for wrongful sale, &o. of public or corps property. Clause 1 provides that fines and subscriptions may be recovered either in a summary way, as provided by the Justices of the Peace Act, or by a civil action at the suit of the commanding officer of the corps. Another clause provides that if any person designedly makes away with, sells, pawns, wrongfully destroys, willfully damages, or negligently loses anything issued to him as a Volunteer, or wrongfully refuses or neglects to deliver up on demand anything Issued to him as a volunteer, the value thereof shall be recoverable from him with costs, and, he shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding L 5. Wrongful buying of arms, &c. from a Volunteer is punishable by a penalty of not exceeding L2O for the first effdnoe, and for a second offence a penalty of not less than L 5 nor more than L2O, with imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months, with hard labour. Wilful injury to butts or targets, or searching for bullets without leave, is punishable by a penalty not exDeeding LlO.