The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2865, 25 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1872.

Whatever Governments may devise for the benefit of the countries over which they preside, may be indefinitely forwarded or completely marred by the persons to whom the carrying out of their measures is entrusted. And this is especially the case where success depends upon the voluntary action of individuals. It is on this ground that the Government is bound to institute or grant a strict investigation into the conduct of Colonel Haring ton at Christchurch. Whatever it may have been it did not give satisfaction to the volunteers. We do not think it necessary for us to specify particular causes of complaint. We gather our information mainly outside the force. The Christchurch papers were by no means reticent on the subject, and even had there been no expression of discontent by a single volunteer, quite sufficient has transpired to render inquiry imperative. The volunteer force is essentially a national institution. Even should it never be called into actual military service, it is still of great social importance. It has a tendency to foster manly habits, individual selfcommand, willing co-operation, temperance, and subordination to constituted authority. Self-denial and selfsacrifice are necessary to attain preeminence as marksmen ; and, apart from the volunteer force being the only one immediately available for defence, as an educational institute, its value can hardly be over estimated. If then, our young men willingly subject themselves to the restraints and discipline requisite to military efficiency, the least that should be expected in return is that the service may be rendered as pleasant as fposssible. We have often thought that too much of the hauteur of the army is introduced into our volunteer arrangements. No doubt prompt obedience to command is essential to rapidity and precision of movement. There is no time for ceremony in action, and one object of drill is to become acquainted with and accustomed to the rapid movements necessary in battle. But our Volunteers are not hirelings, and if the word of command is short, quick, and decisive, as little of (ho martinet should be imported into it as is consistent with clearness and audibility. Still less should there be any one placed over them in whom they have no confidence. Yet this has been the case at the meeting at Christchurch, It is cause for regret that so much complaint has been made, and we fear on good grounds. Wc are not sufficiently acquainted with the etiquette of the service as to know whether any formal inquiry can be instituted by the officers themselves. It is always an ugly thing to attack a commander-in-chief. Privates are not listened to, and officers are looked upon as actuated by jealousy. On the other hand, if civilians move they are told they do not understand the matter; so, once supreme, a military commander is enthroned a more absolute monarch in his own sphere than Her Majesty. Luckily, although civilians are liable to be snubbed for meddling with matters they do not understand, they have ways and means of bringing even a military commander to bay so long as they hold the purse strings. They want to know whether they have what they pay for : a man in authority who fulfils his office efficiently ; and if in their matter-of-fact, business way of viewing matters, they find reason to think lie is not the right man in the right place, there is but one alternative : he must give place to a fitter person. In saying this, we offer no other opinion on the matter than that the proceedings at the Christchurch prize-firing require strict investigation. .So far as the arrangements for the firing were concerned, they appear to have been on the whole *td-

mirable ; it was the carrying them out, so far as Colonel Harington was concerned that seems to have caused dissatisfaction. Now this is precisely what he himself ought to demand inquiry into, should no one move in the matter. If he intend to continue to hold his j)resent office, it is quite as essential for his own sake that lost confidence should be restored as for the Colony itself. If he can justify the whole of his proceedings, or explain satisfactorily to the force what is complained of, he will no doubt regain it : if not, no matter what his talent, the Colony will not be content to retain him. We trust that the matter will be taken up by our representatives at the coming session of Parliament, and sifted to the bottom. The volunteer force is too valuable an institution to be made ducks and drakes of; and when as is rumored some of our best shots declare they will not contend for prizes again unless an alteration is made, it is time for us to probe the wound and apply the remedy.