Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8797, 26 April 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

A STATEMENT lias appeared that the Defence Council intends to make a proposal which will come before Parliament next session, to abolish the present method of electing volunteer officers by vote of the men of the companies, and to substitute instead selection by a board of experts, possibly the Defence Council itself. This suggested innovation will lead to keen discussion of the relative merits of the two systems of appointment. Wo confess that we have little'faith in the method of appointment by vote of the company, as it is dear that the popularity which gains success in an election is by no means always united to the qualities requisite in a good officer. At the same time we readily admit that the appointments made by the Defence Council or any other body ■will bo unsatisfactory unless it enjoys the full confidence of volunteers and has ample and accurate information at its disposal. The New Zealand Times interviewed Mr F. M. B. Fisher, M.H.R., in order to obtain his views on the the proposed change. Mr Fisher, in the course of his reply, said> "A corps takes greater interest in its own affairs when it elects the administrator, and I have no doubt any attempt to change tho system will cause great dissatisfaction all through the country. It is always looked upon as one of the plums within reach of the men that they can, by diligence and attention to their work, rise from the lowest position in the company j to the highest on the vote of their | comrades. But under the proposed selection system you would find officers appointed more on account of their social standing than for their military fitness, and to many mon this would mean the blocking of the path on which they hope to walk." With all respect to Mr Fisher's knowledge of military affairs in this country, we must consider that he bogs tho question at issue, and takes for granted that the system of selection adopted will bo such as to 'offer no reward for d'ligeuco or energy in the ranks. The problem to be decided is whether the eiheiency of the forces can bo increased by a | good system of election by the Th

fence Council. \\'<- imagine that volunteers generaliy lia.vo full confidence in the present member.-; of the Council, and believe that Colonels Bobin, Davies, Collins, and V/obb nave the true interests of vohmtoor.s i at heart. Of such men us these, v/lio have been members of our volunteers forces for years, irvl aro therefore intimately acquainted with their re- ,-■ . • f

quirorneuts, maintain that the present ( methods of electing officers is un- ' satisfactory their opinion is worth serious consideration. We think that no step should be taken by Parliament, which is opposed to the goiiorrJ feeling of the forces, hut we feel assured that with adequate safeguards, a syl ".i of selection by the Council wouil prove more than popular election.

MR HALL-JOKES recently informed the Stratford County Council thatjhe proposed.to hand over to the County the Olmra road, winch included a length of 16 miles of unmctalled road. Such an outcry was raised by the whole district that the othor day Mr Hall-Jones interviewed the Stratford County Council and explained that what lie wanted was that the County County should do what it could to maintain the road, and ho would do his part. He never had the remotest idea that the ] - Council should do the metalling. Undoubtedly ■ lis would make provision for metalling on his future estimates. In any difficulties that the Council got into over the maintenance he would not mind giving B for £ subsidy. It is a great pity that Mr Hall-Jones should not be ahlo to make his meaning clear in official communications to local oodios, and still more regrettable that he should appear not to know what ho meant himself. It is not long since he was reported as having said with reference to the very road in question: "It was not fan's that the ratepayers throughout the colony should have to maintain ! . roads which have been once formed." Now ho explains, that he meant all along that the taxpayers were to provide for metalling the road. We cannot tlwt the Minister altered his mind owing to tho pressure brought to bear on him by Bottlers and others m the district, as such a course would ho quite opposed to Ministerial traditions in this colony, but we must lament 'that his command of English is so small that the same statoment repeated after six weeks' I interval appears to bear an exactly opposite meaning from what it had in tho first case.