THE VOLUNTEERS.
To the Editor . SIR, —I have read the article in Saturday’s ‘ Guardian,’ not “ with pain and disgust,” as your correspondent “No. 1’ has done, but wit hj much pleasure, as being the fir it public notice that has been takfn of the causes of the decadence of Volunteering in this Province. £| I tail to see anything like condemnation of Sub-Inspector Hunan in that article. It is not the man who is objected to, but the principle of putting a paid adjutant into commrnd of the district. Section 12 of the Volunteer Act, 1865, reads thus : “ Adjutants of the permanent staff shall, except when on actual service, rank as junior captains *f the Volunteer force.” Actual service does not mean parading the streets or for the purposes of drill only, but when the force is called into the field in defence of the country, or to fight against some enemy. Clearly, then, the appointment of an adjutant to command the district is ultra vires; as, when on parade the senior captain may not only refuse to take orders from, but actually give orders to the adjutant, who is also in command by virtue of his commission. A somewhat anomalous position, is it not ? lint, as X have said, it is the principle of appointing an adjutant to command that is objected to —not Sub-Inspector Honan, So long as this is done, just so long will there be discontent ai d a lack of esprit du corps in the Volunteer force. Why, it is an insult to every Volunteer officer to put an adjutant into command, and I for one wonder they have not protested against it before now; and I expect them, now that the principle is being followed up; to resign their commissions, and the Volunteers to follow their example and resign in a body, if such an appointmeut is not cancelled If none of the captains of companies are fit for the command (and I believe none of them aspire to it), surely there are gentlemen enough outside the force both able and willing to accept it. Before doing anything else, I would suggest that a deputation of the officers of companies wait upon his Excellency the Governor when in Dunedin, and protest, in the name of the Volunteers, against the appointment of any adjutant to the command. Now that the subject has been mooted, I hope it will be thoroughly ventilated, and that abler pens than mine will take it up.—l am, Ac., _ Swobd. Dunedin, April 27.
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Evening Star, Issue 3798, 27 April 1875, Page 2
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421THE VOLUNTEERS. Evening Star, Issue 3798, 27 April 1875, Page 2
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