The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1887. THE VOLUNTEERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1706, 8 November 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1887. THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Government have been putting out a " feeler " on the question of doing away with country corps of Volunteers. This, like all others « feelers," has been done m a very disengenuous way, whereby the worse, is made to appear the better reason. The Chrisfchurch 11 Press " which under the new regime is, of course, one of the Ministerial organs, and whose Wellington corespondent may be supposed to be one of those happy individuals specially favored by the Government when their assistance may be deemed valuable when any unpopular line of policy is to be enunciated, has, m its issue of yesterday, the following, wired from its Wellington correspondent : — « I understand that General Schaw will probably report strongly m faror of maintaining efficient defences at the principal ports, concentrating all defension efforts of the colony on these all important points instead of spending money broadcast over the colony m supporting Volunteer corps, which would be ucterly useless iv case of invasion, and that he will urge the necessity of keeping up such defences m the chief hosts as shall secure shelter and coaling grounds for the colonial fleet. I hear that both Sir W. Jervois and General Schaw concur m the opinion that there can be no security without maintaining a capable fleet at sea, and that they consider that New Zealand should contribute, as proposed, towards the cost of the Australasian squadron, while also oroviding, as already mentioned, suitable placeß of refuge where vessels could obtain needful supplies and repairs m full security. // ts tepotted that the Government ate m favor of this course and that it will fotm a pot tion of their defence scheme.' 1 The wording of this paragraph from beginning to end is conclusive evidence of its having been " inspired." The words which wo have italicised prove this, we think, most conclusively. If tne volunteers for whose maintenance money has been spent "broadcast" over the colony would prove " utterly useless" m case of invafion why i have their " utterly useless " services i been accepted, and the hardearned monay of the taxpayers ruthlessly squandered m their maintenance by successive Governments. In this respect Major Atkinson's G,9Tcrawe»is (

have been as great sinners as any of the 1 others. We cannot but admire the astuteness of the Government m lugging m such high authorities as General 'Schaw and Sir W. Jereois to act as a buffer between them and hostile publicopinioa. Butwith all due deference to these high authorities we venture to think that the Government are about to take a most impolitic and dangerous course m doing 1 away with tho ,c corps of Volunteers outside " the chief ports." We much prefer the policy pursued by the " Old ( Country," If England, with her huge navy and large standing army, considers its necessary to avail herself of the services of her loyal sons, who do not hesitate" to make large sacrifices m her interest; it the Imperial Government not only contributes largely but takes a pride m doing so, m rendering the Volunteer force at Home as efficient as possible, it surely cannot be wise for this Colony, possessing neither army nor navy, to dispense with the services ot her Volunteers or to stigmatise them as "utterly useless," m case of invasion. There arc roany parts along our cousts where an invading force could land, and without soldiers or volunteers we should be completely at their mercy. We trust that the press throughout the colony will give the Government plainly to understand the sentiments of the people with regard to this "feeler."