THE VOLUNTEERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2239, 28 September 1889, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS

Likut.-Coi. Hume, Inspector-General of Volunteers, a portion of whose report for the past year we published a day or two ago, goes very fully into all question affecting the status and effici- ] ency of our citizen soldiery, and wo purpose drawing attention to a few of his suggestive remarks on the subject. As we have seen, he has an excellent opinion of the materiel' of the sirvico, speaking of tbe rank and file as eager for drill ane! as behaving well under inspection. As regards the non commissioned officers he finds wide differences, and points to the necessity of deficiencies being remedied by securing that these " main-springs" of the Force should be thoroughly instructed m their duties, bo as " to enable them to intelligently and firmly take their proper status and instruct those under them." Ab regards commissioned officers he urges that they are at present put to a great deal too much expense, and very truly observes that " the worry of administering a corpß' finance under the present system, and the scant recognition of their services which is often meted out to them even by the men under them, and nearly always by the public, is calculated to cool the military ardour of the most enthusiastic, and to drive them out of the Force." He also avows the opinion, which, however, we are not yet prepared to accept, that " the system of allowing men to elect their own officers has a pernicious effect." He contends that this " prevents some men, who by education and physique would be an acquisition to the Force, from joining, and on the other hand is the means of introducing undesirable men." This may be, nay is to some extent true, but the opposite system of giving a corps no say m the selection of its own officers is open, we think, to still more serious objections. As regards Equipment Colonel Hume's remarks are deserving of special notice, many defects being pointed out which must be remedied if the Force is to be found a reliable one m case of need. He says :-—'• I have been struck by the enormous expense which has followed each corps being allowed to select its own parlicuiar uniform. Take one example : — Some companies have provided themselves with full valise equipment, the greater part of which could not possibly be required on service m this colony. Again, some have adopted a most expensive Highland uniform, and have thereby seriously crippled their company funds. There was not one company that I inspected with sufficient pouch-accommodation to take the field, even armed with the Snider rifle ; whilst several are not provided with greatcoats, leggings, waterbottles, or haversacks. The shoes of the various ranks on the inspectionparades illustrated every variety of a fashionable boot- shop window, and a large proportion of them were quite unserviceable for anything like hard work or inclement weather. The matter of correct shoeing is one to which officers commanding corps should pay special attention. The materials of the equipment on issue to some of the cavalry corps would not stand any wear and tear ~-e,g,_ the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry pouches and sword-belts are m a particularly rotten state and dangerous, and have long since served more than their time, having been originally | on issue to the Otago Gold Escort.! The Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry and Otago Hussars are without swordknots, which might also prove dangerous. lam strongly m favor of substituting revolvers for swords m the subordinate ranks of all mounted corps. This matter of providing the Force with a simple, comfortable, efficient, and economical uniform, shoes, and equipment should receive due consideration and be firmly taken m hand without delay. ' He has also something sensible to say on the subject oi Encampments. He admits that as a matter of policy it is advisable to show the feasibility of concentrating on short notice a body of men m any particular locality, but urges that aa future efforts will be m the direction of meeting an external instead of an internal foe, camps should be ordered by Government, and the locality fixed and determined m accordance with the amount of practical work and instruction which would be gained, if required to oppose the landing of a hostile force. This, he says, particularly applies to the font centres, and points out that "if camps were formed and men concentrated locally at the different points which might be assailed, not only would the Volunteers at the time serving m the jTorce gam an individpal knowledge of the ground and circumstances under which they would have to move and act, but those who had left it wonld, m case of rejoining, be equally acquainted with the work and duties they would be called upon to perform. The ground and positions occupied by the batteries which the Volunteers wonld have to defend m time of war are at present, m many instances a terra incognita, and as they for tht most part present physical difficulties foi manoeuvring that can only be overcomi by personal knowledge, it appears to b< goicidal to permit chances and oppor trinities to pass 1 yhich, if taken advantag< of now, wonld be of such inestimable value to the forces who may hereafter b< engaged on this duty." Lastly, Colonel Home, is of opinion that the Capitaticn now paid is under the present systen quite inadequate, writing upon the sub ject as follows : — " My inspectional worl made it quite clear to me tbat if th present mode of paying the Force b; capitation is to be continued the amoun per man must be increased. Even th fnfantrjf cannot live' on 10s per man jrhile gome branches, such as the cavalr and field batteries, require special treai ment of a considerably more generou nature than they have received m tb past. 1 am, however, an advocate ior different system of payment. Tl method adopted m New b'outh Walt and Victoria of converting the Force m! a citizen military force, and placing eac man under contract to render certa services m return for a certain pecunia: solatium, receiving pay m exact *»™*^ tion to tne rank attained and the servi rendered } is the most satisfactory ai Economical pf obtaining an adequa defence 'force' for this colony. By-tl meahs the position of all ranks' is ones raised to its proper status, not on m the individual mind of each soldi* but also m the mind of the public. Su £ sysfceni wonld involve a careful pelecti of the men, both as to their physical a menfal fitness ; it wbqk} slso insi greater efficiency j and to belong tfl would be considered a greater none than anything which the country cot I xpect \q obtiiu under tbe Toluol

-- ■ I, . . '.. - i»- - system. It would be, undoubtedly, ■ economical. Tho Government should provide uuiforms and grant a small remnneration for each parade attended or duty performed ; and this, while not nearly so expensive to the taxpayer directly or iudirectly as the capitation system is, wouW be the means of providing disciplined soldiers up to the maximum required." There is much m the Report which is well worth consideration by officers and men, and we hope that the Defence Minister will see to it that at least some of the valuable suggestions which it contains are carried into effect

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