The Wanganui Chronicle, AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1894 COLONEL FOX AND THE AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12120, 5 December 1894, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle, AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1894 COLONEL FOX AND THE AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS.

Thf. New Zealand Herald takes Colonel Fok to task for his strictures upon the Auckland Volunteers, but does not attempt to prove or ,eveu to' assort that such strictures are un- , deserved. Tf we ore to judge by the style of the Herald's defence 1 ' of Hie force, it ■ is in quite as bad a condition as the Colonel has alleged. To charge the Colonel with " hectoring " and ! " scolding J> does not help the Volunteers, neither does a reference like the following to the post history of tho force: — -"Auckland has something to point to in the way of.' Volunteers, The Auckland Volunteers faced an enomy in the field before Colonel Fox did — if lie ovor did such a thing — and have a good record iv actual service. So far aw rifle shooting goes they have a splendid history." We do not know what the war record of the old Volunteers — some of whom are now dead and gone, and some others of whom have long since retired from active service — has to do -vilh the ineificiency and general uselessness of the men of to-day. We think Colonel Vox is to be commended for speaking of things exactly as lie has found them, and for making no attempt to cloak over faults and deficienci,es which make the force unworthy of preset 1 - i ing in its present elate. It is objected to as in bad tasto i'or the Colonel to make comparisons be.twocn the Volunteera of the North and tho Sont.h, and to say that in the mutter of drill Hie former are in. (Snjtely below the latter. Wo confess we cannot see any force in the objection. The only way in which weak Volunteer*) cau bjs mado to

undei'stand'tbat they are below the \e\c\ of efficiency is by being informed that there fire others in the colony who aro far superior to them. With regard to I lie complaints of lack of dignity displayed by the Colonel, and want of consideration for both officers and men exhibited by him in making his cha-ges, we -find it hard to believe such alicgatious. We remember well when, upon one occasion, Colonel Fox foand it necessary to comment unfavourably upon a V/anganni corps, and to find fault with the officer in charge, he was particularly caroful to do so in as inoffensive a manuer as possible. If ilie Colonel strove to be considerate and conciliatory in Wariganui we can imagine no reason why he should become unnecessarily rude and offonsivo in Auckland. The Volunteers of that city will,wc think, be better employed in mending theiv ways than in Hndiug fault with sin officer who has only dono his duty in plainly pointing onfc their faults.