The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1882. Our Volunteers.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 648, 29 May 1882, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1882. Our Volunteers.

TOWN EDITION [lssued at 4.40 *j. m. j

Ever since the memorable Parihaka campaign the Volunteers of New Zealand have occupied a position of increased importance in the eyes of the public. Happily the recent native difficulty on the West Coast was quelled without a drop of blood being spilt, and the circumstance was chiefly attributable to the presence of the Volunteers, who awed the rebels into submission, and thus averted what might have resulted in a serious disaster. For the readiness with which the -men went to “ the front” all honor should be accorded to them, and if there was no fighting our Volunteers were not only prepared to fight, but to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, at the call of duty. To sneer at the men because they returned from the North Island without having tasted powder, as some sneered at them, was an exceedingly poor return for what they did. They knew not at the time they were summoned to the front what dangers they might have to encounter, for they could not forsee any more than the public at large how the threatened hostilities would terminate. The result of the Parihaka business has been to direct public attention to the Volunteers; people have become conscious, all at once as it were, of their value. Quite recently a board of officers was appointed to draw up recommendations to Government for the improvement of the service, which recommendations we published in our last issue. Although somewhat stringent, at the first blush, we should be glad to see these suggestions favorably received, for there can be but little question that their adoption would prove highly beneficial. The strict discipline which the men would have to conform to under such regulations as those proposed would, in all probability, have the effect of inducing not a few to secede from the rrnks of the “ irregulars” in disgust, but this would be a matter of but small consequence —the “ true grit ” would remain behind. The new system would have but the effect of winnowing the chaff from the wheat. Up to the time of the late Maori scare Volunteers were hardly regarded in the light of regular soldiers, who could be depended upon on an emergency arising, but having been tried and not found wanting, the Government has evidently determined to increase the efficiency of the service as much as possible. Such a recognition ot their value to the country by the Government will no doubt be regarded as a high compliment by men who are made of the right stuff. Those Volunteers, however, who joined the ranks for the mere sake of “ playing at soldiering” will doubtless view the proposed changes in a very different light. But, as we have remarked before, this is a matter of no moment. Such men, if any there are, will very well be spared