COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2248, 21 July 1870, Page 2

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

The following is an extract from Colonel Harrington’s report on the “Militia and Volunteer Forces

On the 14ch of April I went to Dunedin to superintend the Colonial Annual Prize Firing, the result of which has been already reported. As I have been requested to ascertain the extent of the power of the Colony for the purposes of self-defence, and particularly in case of emergency in the North Island, and also the general sentiments of the public with regard to the Militia and Volunteer organisation, I beg to make the following jyynarks : I am of opinion tuHrtho presold. Militia Act, whichj can teen to fifty-five years of age to be liable to training and active service is most unpopular. Assuming that they are called out, in their present state of inefficiency, their actual strength would be more nominal than real. I cannot but think it to be impracticable as a system, except possibly in small outlying districts, where the population is more stationary than in the great centres ; and to make them efficient would involve an expensive staff, which the Colony could ill afford.

If it is an object to have a certain number of men trained to form a reserve in case of need, I am of opinion that greater encouragement must be given to induce thej younger portion of the community to serve as volunteers. They should be trained only to simple manoeuvres adapted to the character of the country such as skirmishing’and other drills calculated to inspire mutual confidence, anti above all every encouragement should be given to make them good marksmen and perfect masters of their rilles. On all sides the Volunteer Corps complain of the insufficiency of the present rate of capitation allowance, which was reduced nearly two years ago, and many young men are willing to join the Volunteers and give their time to make themselves efficient, provided they are not called upon to sacrifice money in addition to time. At present the capitation allowance is not sufficient to provide necessary clothing, and many men are prevented from joining corps, because they can ill afford to pay for it. . I also think that the qualification for “ efficient ” Volunteers should be altered, and that they should be compelled to attend a certain number of “ preliminary drills,” and fire a certain number of rounds to entitle them to capitation allowance, and to compete for all District and Colonial Prizes. I strongly recommend that Cadet Corps should receive more encouragement, as they arc more easily trained at an early age, and acquire a knowledge of their duties, which makes the work a source of pleasant occupation. Without doubt, the Volunteers in the Province of Otago are the most zealous and efficient in the Colony, and I consider that in a great measure this superiority has been attained through the encouragement given them by grants from the Provincial Council, and the general support which they receive from the public of their Province.