THE CHAMPION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 6454, 6 March 1888, Page 2

THE CHAMPION.

The bush lawyers would deprive Major Purnell of his victory by a quibble. Ihe regulations of the Rifle Association do not admit of much doubt on tho subject. "The term Volunteer shall mean members of the Volunteer Force, whether on the active or reserve list." It appears that Mdjor Purnell was attached to his corps, the Wangnnui City Rilleß, as an honorary major by the Governor in February last. The Post ridicules this, and attempts to show the absurdity of a staff officer being attached to a single corps. The difference between ridicule and argument is obvious in discussing a question of law, nnd in this instance the Poat ingeniously drops the argument when it no longer answers its purpose, and takes up ridicule, which suits it better. Now what tho Post should havo shown was that tho Governor had no power under the DefenceJAct or the Regulations uuder it to do what he has done, Lot us see, then, what power the Governor haß under the Act (section 5) ;—" The Governor ■ , . may, by notico in the Gazette, attach or cause to be attached Buch officers or any of them [any officei of the New Zealand Forces] to tho general staff of the Forceß, or to the regimental staff of any portion of such Forces, or to any corps, regimental or battalion, or other division thereof, as ho may think fit.'' Tne power then of the Governor seems adequate to attach an officer to a corps, and we venture to think the Committee of the Rille Association will hardly bo bold enough (wero it so inclined) to question the right conferred by tho stature in tho clearest terms. To say that Honorary Major Purnel 1 is not a member of the Volunteer Force when he has been attached to .1 Volunteer corps under tho hand of the Governor by virtue of the words of the statute we have quoted, is a curious perversion of law and fact, and we are not surprised to find that such an interpretation finds Its only support in a laboured attempt at ridicule.