The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1901. THE BATTALION PARADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 254, 28 October 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1901. THE BATTALION PARADE.

Someone appears to have seriously blundered over the Taranaki Battalion parade which it was intended to have held at Hawera on the 11th November in honour of|tbe King's Birthday. We feel satisfied the facts of the case cannot be known to the Hon. the Minister for Defence, because what has occurred is not calculated to encourage volunteering in Taranaki. At the time of the Royal visit and on other occasions Taranaki volunteers have at very great personal inconvenience complied with the wishes of the Defence Department, and endured the misery of long train journeys and the discomforts of badly managed camps (a large number of them even went to Ohristchurch), yet their request to bold a battalion parade in their own district is refused. We understand that the custom is for the officer in command of a battalion to fix the time and place for a battalion parade, and submit the same to the officer commanding the district for approval. Mora than a month ago we understand Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis,

after consultation with his officer, fixed on the 11th November at Hawera for a parade of the battalion unde.- his command. This was duly forwarded for approval and after being neglected for an unreasonable time was refused ov* I the ground, we are told, that the department declined to incur the expense. If this refusal had been sent at once the disappointmsnt would not have been so great, because it being a most unusual thing t>o% to give effect to the recommendations of an officer in Colonel Ellis' position the making of thenece-i-' sary arrangements was proceeded with on the part of each corps, and the people of Hawera were making great preparations for the visit of the volunteers and their friends. One of the strongest reasons for holding the parade at Hawera was the fact, as we pointed out when the battalion was first formed, that Hawera is the only place where all the corps can meet and return heme the same day without running a special train. At the previous parade of the battalion the Patea Company was unable to attend because the train arrangements did not suit, and by holding a parade at Hawera it would enable every corps in the battalion to meetand do bf nour to his most Gracious Majesty the King. Owing to the scattered position of the several companies forming the battalion it nutters little where the parade is held, snd the cost is the same because all but the local company have to entrain, Asa means of encouraging a proper esprit de corps these battalion parades are invaluable, and the experience gained by officers and men in entrainibg and working in large bodies is of great educational value, and should be encouraged in every possible way, while nothing does more to keep up the strength of the several companies than these visits to neighbouring towns. We fear the system that has been adopted of each department charging the other for services rendered is really at the bottom of this trouble. Instead of the Railway Department, as was formerly the cage, carrying all volunteers in uniform free on such an occasion as this, tickets are now issued, tho cost of which is charged to the Defence Department and credited to the R.iKvay Department, This doubtless shows the actual cost and earnings of esch department, but is, after "nil. taking the I money out of one pocket and putting it in the other, and should not be hllowed to stop *uch a gathering ;\n was proposed at Hawera. Indeed the revenue will really loso very cocsiderable by this decision. It would b»j quite safe to es'imate that from 500 to 1000 psopto would travel by train to Hawera that day to wifcuess thp par&de, becaute as several of the inpunted corps had expressed their intention of being present, it was certain to be the largest muster of volunteers seen in Toranaki for 'many years. Tha decision appears bo unreasonable, so contrary to the policy of the Minister for Defence, so unwise in ils effect on the volunteers themselves, and such f.dse economy, thai, as we have said, there is no doubt some one has blundered. Tha experience of the past twelve month; | has shown that some of the officers of the Defence Department are perfectly incompetent. The succe sful way in which the varieus (onticgents were equipped and despatched was due to fcbe fact tbafc Mr Seddon personally nndtriook duties which the departmental officers shoul i have performed As isoon as his strong baud was removed defence were hopilessly muddled. Although there is probably no time to remedy it, we would suyg»s that his Worship the Mayor, with the Mayors and chairmen of the other

local authorities, should protest agaiosfc the way in which the attempt of the people of Taranaki to honour their KiDg has been frustrated.