The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1900. VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 217, 7 November 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1900. VOLUNTEER ENCAMPMENT.

Now that volunteering has taken such a hold of the young men of the district, it is only natural that it should occupy a large share of public attention. It is further advisable that an opportunity should be afforded to the men enrolled to get the greatest possible benefit as regards a thorough military training, This, it is agreed, it not possible in the ordinary weekly company drills. Wherever it is possible it is desirable that corps should have an opportunity of meeting together not only for the purpose of knowing,each other, but of learning something of battalion drill. It is reported that an encampment is shortly to be held in Taranaki with the view of giving the numerous new corps that have been formed an opportunity of getting this training. The voluuteer authorities sh#uld > take the necessary steps to see that this encampment is held in tho vicinity of New Plymouth; Few places present the advantages possessed by New Plymouth as the site for a volunteer encampment, All round the town are places which are exceptionally suitable, many of which have an historical interest. Training oar young volunteers over the sites of old battle fields cannot help but have a beneficial effect from a military standpoint. The central position of New Plymouth are regards the railway,' and the Opunake district makes it a very, convenient rallying point, and is,.! further, the poijit of attack in tbe ( event of hostilities with any Foreign Power. An encampment at New Plymouth would have many attractions to the men, not. the least of which would be the opportunity, if the site was suitably selected, of indulging in sea bathing. Another matter that should receive immediate attention is the formation of a Taranaki Battalion. There we now, including tho Cadets, no less than eleven corps, distributed as follows:—Mounted llifles at Hawera, Stratford, and Oponake ; infantry corps at Patea, Eltham, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, and, three corps, Rifles, Guards, and Cadets at New Plymouth. This should enable a really strong battalion, to be formed with headquarters staff, including resident drill instructor and garrison band. Such a step would, in our opinion, do more to permanently advance the welfare of volunteering in Taranaki than anything else. We hope to see the matter taken up heartily, and carried through with the same energy that has characterised volunteer matters during the past twelve months. The Government is very anxious to see the military forces of the colony put upon a thoroughly sound and efficient footing, and may, therefore, be expected to afford really .substantial help in a matter so well calculated to advance the interests of j the movement in Taranaki. j