VOLUNTEER NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 182, 19 July 1900, Page 4

VOLUNTEER NEWS.

(By Nota Bene.)* In addition to receiving a circular from the Government calling attention to the fact that khaki of the Imperial Service pattern has been imported, and that patterns of field service uniforms are incourse of preparation, the officers commanding the districts have been instructed to take steps to see that all corps recently formed should provide themselves with field sevice uniforms of this particular pattern, and of Government material.

The Secretary of the War Department, in England has promised to forward' to the authorities in Victoria, at as early a date as possible, copies of the i special report on safety ranges, obtained by officers appointed by it to visit the 'Continent and inspect such ranges in use in Switzerland, Germany, and other countries of Europe. It would |be well for the New Zealand Government to also obtain copies of this report,

The National Eifle Association or New South Wales have issued the programme of the 40th prize meeting, to be held at the Kandwick rifle range from Monday, '22 nd, to Saturday, October 27.. As the. matches are liberally endowed in the matter of prizemoney, and a large proportion of them are open to outside competition, no doubt the gathering will attract some of the leading marksmen of this colony.

I A new West Coast Battalion has been formed with its headquarters at i Palmerston. Capt. Dunk, of the Manajwatu Mounted Rifles, has been appointed to the command with the rank of Major. The new battalion will c insist of the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, which will rank as No. 1 Company, Otaki, Levin and probably the Hunterville Mounted Rifles now in course of formation.

In the Auckland district it is proposed to hold a service dinner, embracing all the officers of the various corps, including surgeons and chaplains. The object is to promote intimacy and friendship amongst the officers. It is suggested making it an annual affair. Now there are a number of corps in Taranaki some means of bringing the officers together is worth consideration,

The Premier has announced in the House his intention of setting up a Defence Committee, to deal with suggested reforms in connection with our colonial defence force,

With scarcely an exception, the officers who have made their mark in the present war—for instance, General French, Colonel Kekewich, Colonel Plumer, and-General Baden-Powell - have in every sense of the word chosen the army as their profession. It is, Unhappily, only a comparative few who are able to do this, owing to the limited pay and the heavy expenses which have to be borne in regimental life. This often acts as a barrier to those who possess brains, but have not private ins ans, and the consequence it that the wealthy man, who has no need to enter the army for a living, crowds in, to the exclusion of those in less fortunate circumstances. The only remedy is to increase the pay of junior officers and to curtail mess expenses, and until this is done money, and not brains, will remain an important factor in obtaining commissions. It is different with thesister branch of the service, and there seems no reason why the scale of expenditure in the army cannot be assimilated to that in the Royal navy, —Kavd and Military Record.

*No¥A BbNe will esteem It a favour if members of companies will forward items of interest concerning their corps.