VOLUNTEERS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1829, 12 February 1863, Page 2

VOLUNTEERS.

To the Editor of tlte Wellington Independent. Sir, — I was pleased to observe in your leading article of 7th instant, your conviction thafc Uio appeal Mr Domett has made to the Superintendent will not be in vain, with reference to, the .furthering of the Volunteer system in the province of Wellington. There can, I think, be little doubt of this province being able to raise a large body of serviceable volunteers if the General Government will (as it appears their desire is to do) encourage the movement by making certain concessions cf a reasonable nature, calculated to make .th^jtnovoment a popular o ne. , ; $'' iiyj At a meeting of the Hutt Rifle Volunteers oa Saturday last, the letter containing the views ahd wishes of the Government was read, and, the members present were requested . to consider thf matter and make any suggestions on the subjeot they thought proper and reasonable, when tbe following opinions were unanimously expressed,-* That the viovernment should give a grant of land to each volunteer, (after 5 yeii(£.mxiQ§) on the same scale as afc present given to military officers, noncommissioned officers, and men. 2. That they should be paid for tbe days on which they are oalled out for training,, exercise, or actual service. , JX i ,. , 8. That the present system of giving /away lands to military settlers should cease* andXthey should be placed on the same' footing, Xas 6tHsr settlers. . -*.■« : * .":■"•'! 4. That the Bervice already given by volunteers should be allowed to count as part of the term of five years. *X " • ■" *• Now it strikes me that the above suggestions aro, at any rate, no more than ought to ba granted; in fact, anything less willhaVe the effect of making the movement as unpopular as *■ heretofore. Tnere are many reasons why" tha "'" volunteer system should be encouraged, and nik^y of them peculiarly applicable to, thii': Cojony. There are also many reasons why the grJMits to military settlers should be discontJn-q4wf ; JJ v buti I leave the further, consideration of the mat tet J* for abler hands to deal with, and I remain, sir, yollt'i obediently. < 0 :Xi y*' H.V.B, - The Hutt, February $, 1863. .S33i -,0 »M