The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1898.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4774, 14 October 1893, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1898.

The Volunteers.

Notwithstanding the bitter disappointment whioh volunteers of all ranks must have felfc at the apathy shown by oar representatives when Colonel Fox's report was co tardily brought before the Houea dorihg the late session, only to be summarily dismissed; notwithstanding the apparent hopelessness of any steps being taken in' the near future towards the reorganisation of the Volunteer Foroe so m to place it on a thoroughly effloient footing, the volunteersj-aB a body, haTe ■ shown' thab they possess the right foundation upon whioh an effective military force could be built, namely, obedience to the supreme power in the State. When the resuH) of the debate on Colonel Fox's recommendations was 'first canvassed rumour was busy with reports that many corps would disband. Volunteer! were urged to remember that their vote was an important one, and attempts were made to induce the men to make their grievance a political question. It is a matter o£ congratulation that, at any rate in this district, they have not allowed themselves to be made use of for simply party politios. As Alliaon, in one of his essays, remarks, "Citizen soldiers are extremely service! able when they axs subjected to the, bonds of discipline and obedient to the orders of the supreme power ; but when they take upon themselves to discuss the measures or forms of Government and, instead of obeying orders, to canvas principles, there iB an end, not only of efficiency in the force, but of all utility in the institution.*' The faot that the volunteers have shown that they recognise their duty, and are willing to perform it under what must be admitted to be moat disheartening ciroumstanoes, renders it the more incumbent on the public to pay* Borne attention to the question of defence, to seriously consider whether a force is neoeesary or not, and if not, to insist that no more money be expended on a useless institution. If, on the other hand, upon the matter being calmly and impartially considered, it be- agreed that a defence force is required for. New Zealand^ then the public should demand that it be plaoedon an efficient footing | and should no longer allow their f ellow-oitizens, who Btand between them and a militia, to be strung on year after year with promises of new arms,^re-organisafcion, <fee., which pro* misea,'Bre again and again broken, till the best of volunteers are gradually beingdrifen from the force- Without the sympathy and enoouragement of the public, the' Volunteers cannot be efficiently maintained, nor will any Government give more than promises until public interest is ahown in the movement. Adam Smith's remarks, "A private citizen who, in time of profound peace, and without any particular encouragement from the public, should spend the greater part of his time in military exercises, might, no doubt, both improve himself very much in them and amuse himself very. well, but he certainly would not promote bis own interest." It is only a New Zealand volunteer who can. thoroughly appreciate the concluding words of the above quotation ! It is still - more the duty of the public to take up this ' queßtion,sineo the men who are patriotically f unsishing the only defence foroe we hay« are preoluded, if they are true volunteers, from entering into a disoussiott on a subject which would probably lead them to oritioiee the conduct and action! i of their Buperiore.