THE DEFENCE MINISTER ON VOLUNTEERING.

Evening Star, Issue 3478, 16 April 1874, Page 3

THE DEFENCE MINISTER ON VOLUNTEERING.

The Defence Minister spoke as follows at the Auckland banquet to the rifle representatives ; I think that the Volunteer movement, as a whole, is of too spasmodic a character in Auckland. At one time it is in the ascendant, and at another it is neglected altogether, not only by the Volunteers, but by the whole community. I should have expected that there would have been some national pride taken in such an important portion of the Colony as Auckland ; but on the contrary I regret to say that men o< wealth and position in the place neglect to afford their assistance and countenance to the Volunteers. They seem to forget that those men who are the best Volunteers and best prize shooters are the very men who ought to receive tha greatest support and assistance from their employers. Besides that, if we are to hold the position we ought to hold, we should always be prepared for any emergency, whether such emergency arises in the Co'Ony or out of it, and consequently there should be a body of Volunteers, and we should be always in a position to hold our

own. We should not sink to a low level, but should be able to handle arras when put into our hands. Now, this has not been the case uniformly, and, as far as my observation goes, there are certain periods when the _ Volunteer movement happens to be in the ascendant, but these periods require a certain stimulus; and although the candidates from the North have been successful on this occasion, 1 believe they owe their success to the people of the South, who have instilled a desire for competition. In a great measure that is one of the causes which has led to the present victory. It speaks well for the future of the country that a European native of the soil has carried away one of these prizes. I do not say that the services of the Volunteers will be required for defence within the Province, but 1 should be sorry to see the movement

flagging on that account. I think it should be kept up, as it is very desirable in many respects, and I am certain that there is an under-current of feeling that will go far to help on this Volunteer movement if the public will only render reasonable assistance. I would rather see the whole thing abolished than that the movement should be a sham. You must have organisation in volunteering In ordertbatthe Volunteriag movement shall not be a mere name, it is my ntention to bring in some regulations more stringent than those we have hitherto bad 5 for f believe that one.good man is better than three useless men. 1 have already prepared certain regulations in that direction, and it is not to the men alone that I look, but also to the officers. I have invariably seen that where there is a good company there must also be a good officer, who devotes a great deal of his time to the company. Where that is the case Volunteering must be successful. If, en the contrary,'’Tlfincl that there is entire, indifference on the part of the officers, then, J say, let us rely On the youth of the Colony who are now growing up, for the future defence of the country, and they must be trained accordingly. But rather than have Volunteering a rham I would for my part do away with it altogether and trust to the rising generation. - ' “ i ’"'