THE NEW MILITIA BILL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2272, 18 August 1870, Page 2

THE NEW MILITIA BILL.

The following are the resolutions contained in the interim report of the select committee on militia and volunteer law ! That an officer should be appointed to command, and periodically inspect, the militia and volunteer force of the colony, and be generally responsible to the government for the efficiency thereof. That the defence charge for militia and volunteers should be a general and not a provincial charge. That a simple drill book be at once prepared for the use of the militia and volunteers. That a course of instruction, however ele* mentavy, should be appointed for militia and volunteer officers ; and that an officer should not be promoted unless certified by compe* tent authority to he duly qualified to direct the movements of his company. That it is desirable that volunteer corps should be put through a course of musketry instruction every year. That every militiaman should be supplied with a suitable uniform. That iron targets should he supplied to mil ilia and volunteer districts. That ammunition should not he provided to the volunteers by the Government without payment, except on the con litions that such ammunition should be fired off under the command and supervision of cither a commissioned or a non-commissioned officer. That the Government should, as aoou as possible, provide arms suitable for cadet corps. That with a view to the gradual aud eventual preparation of the whole male adult inhabitants of the colony for effective defence in time of need, and with a view to the encauragemcnt of the volunteer movement, it is expedient that the greatest possible encouragement should be given to the establishment and efficiency of cadet corps. That it is indispensable, with a view of this efficiency, that the cadet corps should have Ja regular status, be amenable to the volunteer act, and should receive every every encouragement by a liberal allowance being made for uniform, and for those other purposes which are recognised to be necessary to the extension and efficiency of the volunteer movements. That it is expedient, towards this efficiency, that such coprs should be established only in towns and other large centres of population, that the members of it should not be admitted at an earlier ago than twelve, and that membership should cease on attaining the ago of seventeen. That it is desirable, with a view to increasing the efficiency of the militia, and towards making the sendee more popular with the men, that the Government should as far as possible assimilate the organisation to that adopted for volunteers, by granting to militiamen after a stated length of service in training, certificates of efficiency, signed by the officer commanding the district, on the recommendation of the adjutant, if they deserve them; such certificates exempting the men from attendance at drill except four times a year or once in each quarter, the men remaining on strength of their respective companies, being allowed to retain their anus, &c., and having the privilege of competing for prizes at target firing. Should it be found that the men holding such certificates fail to keep up to the standard of drill, the certificates to be withdrawn. That it is necessary that the volunteer acts should be amended with reference to the exemption of volunteers after three years’ training, aud that the Government be recommended to adept the following px'iuciple as regards exemption: —That volunteers after three years’ training, holding certificates of efficiency for each year may claim exemption from further training for as many years as they hold cex-titicate of efficiency ; that they shall retain their arms, accoutrements, aud ammunition, aud have the privilege of competing for any prize at target firing offered by the Government ; that they slialf remain on the strength of their corps, bub be kept on the reserve list, to bp callecj out for inspection parade four times a year, or once a quarter, aud liable at all times for actual service. Should it be found that the men holding such certificates fail to keep up to the standard of drill, the certificate to he withdrawn. During the time they enter the reserve list of corps, they shall not be entitled to draw capitation allowance.