OUR VOLUNTEER FORCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2278, 12 November 1889, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEER FORCE.

If the Volunteer Force of New Zealand does not become all that it should bo, it will certainly not be for the want of ex -, pert advice. From time to time the colony has been visited by officers of high rank m the Imperial service, several of whom have made tours of inspection through the different commands, and who have all made suggestions with a view to increased efficiency. The latest of these visitors is Major-General Edwards, who, unlike most of his predecessors, has proved a pretty severe oritic. Interviewed as to hie views upon the subject, he is reported to have expressed himself well pleased with the material of the force, but by no means well pleased as to its management, remarking ? ( You have capital men, but are absolutely wanting m the system and organisation necessary to make them of any use." Victoria, he adds, was much m the same state six or seven years ago, before that oolony organised her forces. He considers that we "are very backward indeed ''and declares that it would be impossible to organise an adequate defence force under the present system, while as regards the value ot the existing force, from a military point of view, he says that " it can no more be considered a workable military machine than a number of pieces of iron lying m a foundry yard could be called a locomotive." This of course is equivalent tq saying that we h,aye (he niaterial but want organisation,. He also unsparingly condemn* both the uniforms worn, b^ and the arms supplied to, the Mew Zealand Volunteers. As to the former he says — { 'They could not go on active service m the uniforms they now wear, and if they ! do not what have you to put them m ? If they were to take the field m plain clothe^, every man would be liable, by the rules of war to be shot ac a spy;" and as to the latter he condemns the Snider as obsolete, asserting thai " ten men with the new rifles would be equal to fifty men with Bniders. They could kill all the latter without going near them—, without coming within range of the Sniders,'.' adding "I need hardly tell you how important it is for your forces to have a really good rifle. If your force ia small, as yours must be, bo much the more reason that your men should have the best weapons you can get, and should be able to use them thoroughly well." He pooh-poohs the idea of a detachment of Imperial troops being obtained for garrison purposes upon payment by the oolony— a suggestion which has been made m some quarters, but which would certainly not be entertained by colonists generally, and which moreover General Edwards does not believe the Home Government would accede to even if they did—^his own ideas running m the direction of a Permanent; Federa\ Force for Australasia, the commissions m which should be granted by the Queen. Even if such a force be established, as m par(i a realisation of the now mooted Australian Dominion Scheme, it is, however, not probable that> New Zealand's defence will thereby be provided for, as it is not at all likely that she will join guch. a federation, even if the federation be established, for years to come, if ever, and therefore bfboyea u£ to W whas

can be done towards improving our own Defence Force on the lines of General, Edwards' suggestions. In order to this, it is to be hoped that the question of arms and uniform will at once be taken into consideration by the new Minister for Defence, Captain Russell, aud that he will also do his best with the assistance of his colleagues and of Parliament to place our volunteers on a better footing as regards organisation and discipline