Untitled

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 135, 7 May 1891, Page 2

It will be good news for volunteers that the Cabinet have decided to place the whole of the defence forces of the colony under an Imperial officer, who shall have the title of Commandant. Provision was made in the Defence Estimates for a salary of £700 a year for that .officer. This is done without any increase in the cost of the department, the new Salary being just about equal to the total of the amounts paid to the officers who have been dispensed. Lord Wolseley will be asked to recommend an officer for the command. It is understood (says the Post) that the permanent reorganisation of the forces will stand over until the Commandant is in oifice, and that in the meantime the Government will only make such temporary alterations as they consider to be urgently necessary. It must not be lost sight of however, that members of what are known as " the Wolseley gangr " are not so highly respected in military circles at Home, which revolve round the inner circle so disrespectfully designated as " a gang." At the same time these officers, who compose such " gang," have learned from their chief that it is best for them to have no divided responsibility ; therefore we may expect that our commandant will not accept the position unless he is given full control over the New Zealand forces, and is quite independent of that •* political influence " which has proved such a stumbling block to all other commanding officers-.