VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7244, 27 August 1902, Page 4

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

|IIV TinAlXiW'IUR.] After nn interval of sovornl months, I low ro-cominonco my " notos," which I iopo readers may lind as interesting ns icrotoforo.

It ia moro than gratifying to find that tho Mastorton Vohnitcoi'B have procured tho Morris-tubo alioot,iii(» apparatus, and tho members uro making full use of it. This is tho right way in which to foster rillo shooting amongst tho volunteers during tho wintor months when they nre prevented from ongaging in outsido practice, and, aa an additional incentive, matches should bo inaugurated and small prizes awarded, f notico Private Aysou wus tho first to distinguish_ himso'lf by olTering a cash prize, and in tho intercuts of shooting his action is worthy of emulation. It is also pleasing to note

that tho volunteers have niado considerable and convenient alteration:! in tho interior of the Drill Hall, which will soon bo made as comfortable as anyone could wish.

Volunteering generally, in Mastorton, appears to bo in no way languishing, but, rather, those interested aro manifesting keen enthusiasm, if tho attendance at parados, the well-kept accoutrements, mid the elliciency of the members can bo accepted as a criterion. The volley-firing returns in connection with tho Wellington district corps, for the year ended Fobruary 28th, show the Masterton ltiilos to bo nineteenth on tho list with tin average of 7"5 G. Fifty-two men fired, and the total number of points secured was 893. The highest on ,lio list wcro tho Wellington Guards, fifty mon firing, total points G'23, and average 12*4G, whilst llio lowest were the Pahin tun, lliflcs, with fourty-four men, 255 points, and an average of 5*71). A Gluistchurcli volunteer, who recently received his long-service medal, calculates that during the last sixteen yearn he has walked close upon five thousand miles to attend parades. This is cxclusivo of marching competitions and marches lo camps. Weight is lent lo soi-no remarks of iho Hon. Colonel lilt in tho Legislative: Council, lately, on the subject of our defences, by reason of his Ion;; connection with the colony's volunteer forcea. We must sec to it, he said, thai the colony's defences wcro in an ellicient state. No doubt now that the war was over there would bo a lull in the martial spirit. (A lion, member—We hope so). J!ut the old adage whs true that if wo wanted to be prepared for war we must make preparation for it in the time of peace. The times might easily become less prospcr.ous, and when tho cry wont up for retrenchment one of the first Departments it would bo directed to would bo the Defence Department. It was necessary now, therefore, for the Government to sec that the forces were properly equipped and properly organised. (An hon. member —Volunteers?) Yes, and he did not thinlc that the colony would ever havo any other forco than a. purely volunteer one. Colonel Pitt further remarked tho war had taught us that a country could be successfully defended by a purely citizen army. But it was for the Legislature to !?eo that the funds were available for proper equipment, so that in time of war tho forces would bo thorougly ellicient and everything done without panic and hurry. After tho statements made at tho time of tho lloyal visit in regard to encouraging cadet corps, ho was sorry to see a disposition on the part of ilie Government to cut down tho allowance for such corps to such an extent as would hardly enable them to carry on. Cadet corps were the foundation of n defenco force, and ho would like to see something on the lines of the Swiss system. Colonel Pitt also urged greater encouragement of volunteers and rille shooting, emphasised the need for solid training in distance judging, and pointed to tho good example set by all the Australian States in allowing the volunteers to have ammunition at leas than cost price. Respecting the reference to tho curtailing of allowances, no doubt Colonel Pitt was alluding to that in connection with the Cadet Corps of the Colony. It was formally announced, amongst other items, that "capitation at the rate of XI per head, or such other amount as may bo annually appropriated by Parliament," would be paid to officers and members of the Cadet Corps, but it now appears that Parliament, acting, of course, upon the advice of tho Minister for Defence, or of his deputy for the time being, has fixed the capitation at five shillings per head. Doubtless, this is legal, but it is most inexplicable and savours of sharp practice. It is especially hard on the patriotic corps who have become responsible for uniforms, amongst the number being the Masterton lviflo Cadets. A kind of promise has been given that corps which has assumed liabilities in the expectation of the pound per head will bo assisted, but the five shillings now offered is hardly likely to keep many Cadet Corps alive, and cannot possibly keep any ordinary corps strong and healthy.

Anything that Major-General Babington has to say regarding volunteer matters generally, should be of interest to all. The Commandant lately submitted his first report to Parliament, stating that the organisation of the Defenco Department, as it is at present, leaves very much to be desired. In regard to the Mounted Corps branch of the service, as well as with the infantry, the Commandant has limited the training to tho smaller units for the present. Excellent material, he says, exists in New Zealand for this important arm, and with the spirit now animating corps, a proper system of training should produce good results. While mounted drill is necessary to enable bodies cf wen to be moved to any point required, rapidly and in good order, adds Major-General Babington, yet too much time should not be spent on it, nor the fact lost sight of that dismounted action is tho true ■metier of the mounted rifleman.

Ho states, in respect to infantry, that more outdoor work is required, and whilst fully realising tho difficulties which exist in the matter, ho says that, if worked on common-sense linos, corps will make an effort to turn out by daylight more than has been tho custom heretofore. Ceremonial exercises should give place to practical work, and those points which arc merely a means to an end should not be mistaken for the more important matters essential to elliciency. The musketry regulations have been amended, and tho course made moro practical. Shooting at unknown ranges should form the main, if not the entire, annual training of members of tho Defence Forces, tho recruit being trained the use of his rifle at unknown distances. Although tho past war should not be taken as a hard-and-fast pattorn, yet magazine rifles demand more extended formation than heretofore. A bettor discipline and greater knowledge by junior ranks is therefore essential, and the former much depends on the latter.

" Cadet Coi'ps should bo encouraged

says the Commandant. "So far the Empire has been fortunate in escaping the necessity for conscription. Events may, however, as they have done in other countries, force this upon her, and a means of gaining immunity therefrom would appear to be the training of the youth of tho country to arms. I have recommended that all boys under thir-

teen shall be under the Education Dα

partnicnt, and instructed in the elements of military knowledge ; that after thir-

teen, and while still at school, or, say till seventeen years of age, they be cadets under the Defence Department. Very

fow hours per month would so far educate a boy that after he passed out of the Cadet Corps he would very easily bo rendered lit to take his place in the ranks of an organised force should necessity arise. The training of cadets should form part of their education, and not be made irksome to them by interfering

with their piny hours, etc." liiflo Clubs require also to bo encouraged where they do not influence recrui'tiii" for corps : but in no .sense can an untrained man, however good a shot he may be, compare on scrvico to an even partially trained one.