9

H.—54

This sheet indicates that, so far as. wear only is concerned, the articles at the end of their supposed term of wear should still be good, and that a large margin is provided for deterioration from neglect, ill-usage, &c.

Genebal Summary. 1. In compiling the foregoing the writer found it necessary from the outset to clearly define the service which it was assumed the country should expect to be voluntarily rendered by those offering themselves as Volunteers, as follows :* namely, that it be recognised as a principle that a citizen's duty as a Volunteer towards the defence of his country be strictly limited to service in the ranks, and to his giving free and without pay time for parades not occupied by his daily work ; and the time for such parades is supposed to be one evening per week (except recruits, first period) : that the country has no right to require him to take the rank and discharge the extra duties and responsibilities of a non-commissioned officer without repaying him for the loss of valuable time which a proper discharge of those duties entails; and on no account should a Volunteer be at any expense on account of his service, except to provide himself with underclothing and good strong boots —marching-boots with flat broad soles are very important. 2. The scheme of remuneration has been based upon the above supposition. The evening parades, although they may in a manner suffice for the drill-ground or ceremonial parade, will not suffice to make a force efficient on a modern battle-field; and the scheme of remuneration strictly follows the lines of recompense for work done, which proves efficiency for active service. 3. On the whole the present Act and Begulations are quite strict enough to insure discipline and obedience to orders; but they seem to be made for a force composed of persons in comfortable circumstances, who can spend money on the service and give up freely business time to their military duties. Such a Force, if it ever existed, has long been extinct. 4. It is not assumed that it is either necessary or desirable to call out and drill the Militia in the ordinary way, for it is believed that by adopting the course indicated the desired results can be obtained, without seriously interfering with the work and business economy of the country. 5. In the matter of uniforms it is important that they be, if possible, issued on charge from Government store like the rifles, and to discontinue the present worry and extravagant waste of money by the corps receiving the capitation and making their own arrangements for purchase in small quantities. 6. The writer is aware that there are numerous complaints of the insufficiency of the present capitation—£2 for each " efficient" Volunteer. The capitation, both of necessity as matters stand, arid also expressly by paragraph 136, New Zealand Volunteer Begulations, goes to the corps and not to the men; and it would be amply sufficient (vide Detail Sheets D to I) if every, or nearly every, Volunteer performed the duties required to render himself "efficient," and thereby entitle his corps to receive the capitation. 7. The country properly lays down certain duties which it requires a Volunteer to perform to make his service worth the finding him in uniform, &c.; and the cry for increased capitation for these purposes simply means that the country is asked to pay for keeping up a number of men who do not perform the required duties. 8. The principles in this scheme apply to the whole Force. The details are written, in the first place, for the infantry branch; the modification of details for other branches should present no serious difficulty. The writer has refrained from doing so in order not to extend the foregoing to extreme length. 9. liifles. —The Snider rifle is the only military weapon worth issuing to the Force in its present condition. It is easily kept clean and easily repaired ; and any slight fouling, leading, or interior damage does not so rapidly or seriously affect it as the small bores, and the average available field of fire is not beyond the effective range of the Snider. It is quite true that for general warfare by large bodies of troops over extensive and clear ranges the Snider is obsolete ; but here these conditions are much modified. The Force must be much improved before it is ready for the issue of small-bore rifles. 10. Field-days. —One whole day in the field does more good than several half-days. On halfdays everything is hurried. There is only time to make mistakes, and no time to correct them. Such errors become habitual, and by instinct will be repeated on the battle-field. If the manoeuvres were executed during the first half of the day, the mistakes then pointed out, and the movements more correctly executed during the latter half of the day, steady and valuable progress would result. Whatever value the present Force may have as a brilliant military pageant, for modern fighting against trained troops it has none, either by day or night, although there is plenty of splendid material in the country, ready and willing, under reasonable and favourable conditions, to be formed into efficient troops. Mobitz Bowbon, Captain commanding Bichmond Bifles, New Zealand Volunteers, Head-quarters, Christchurch, Canterbury.

*In reading the scheme this definition must never be lost sight of: it is the key to the whole.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,250 copies), £& 12s. Gd.

By Authority: GeobcSe Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l. Price 6d.}

2—H. 54.