Feilding Volunteer Movement

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 151, 13 June 1891, Page 2

Feilding Volunteer Movement

In ' response to the advertisement a meeting of those interested in the yolunteer movement was held in the Assembly Rooms laet night. The officers of the Manchester Rifles, Captain Pleasant &, Lieutenant Kirfcoß, Color-Sergt. Bilderbeck, Sergr. Evans, Sergt.-Major MoMillan, from Wanganni, members of the corps, and also the following prominent townsmen : — Messrs F. Y. Lethbridge, W. Carthew, J. 0. Morey, A. Eade, with a number of others, were present. Captain Pleasante presided and opened the proceedings by stating that on account of the- low state of the corps he, had thought it best to call a public meeting to consider what could be done to revive the interest of this corps (Manchester Rifles). The capitation grant had been earned last year by inducing several members to withold their resignations in order to keep up to the required number. It had been suggested that an application should be sent to the Defence Minister to form a Eifle Club. The application "was made, and the following reply from the Defence Officer was received by Major Newell : " Sir, with reference to ' your letter containing application from Captain Pleasants to have his corps formed into a Rifle Club, I must decline to. accede to the. request as it would be detrimental to the Marton and Palmerston companies." Captain Pleasants said that this surprised many of them, as, they had thought there woiald be no difficulty in forming a Rifle Club. In regard to the present state of the corps it must be acknowledged they were far below the required number, partly owing to removals, and the fact that the volunteer spirit appeared to be dying out in Feilding. A number of people had stated they were willing to join a club, and he thought it would have been better everyway. Captain Pleasants invited suggestions from those present as to the best means 'for reviving the interest in the corps. He said 'there were 24 names on the roll and it would require 24 more to make up the strength. Mr Lethbridge thought it wonld be unfortunate to let ihe company cLe out, and although he considered he had done enough in the past, still he would offer himself as a recruit, and he would pro- j pose that an advertisement be put in the , paper calling for recruits, ,as in a short i ' time young men might come forward who would be willing to join. Mr Kirton, in seconding the motion, j said if the corps , • got a few re- J criiits, enough to bring- it _up to the | minimum strength, they were in a | position to give prizes, and this would be direct encouragement for the members. .On the subject of the militia he stated that it was the firm intention of the Hon. Mr Se'ddon, if the volunteer corps are not ' up to the strength, the militia ; would be called out. ■ He considered that ■the .young men in the colony ought to be prepared to meet any emergency. Several of the business men in Feilding had promised to allow- their young men to get away when required for parades. There -was a commission at present vacant, and as Mr Lethbridge had so pluckily offered to come forward, the best thing that could be done was to give the commission to him. ' He -hoped the corps would be kept up by the addition of new men and by the old members, coming into the ranks again. This .resolution was carried.' Mr Morey proposed that Messrs Lethbridge, Kirfcon, and Carthew form a committee to canvas the town, and report in* a fortnight. - ■ - Mr C. Aitkin seconded the resolution, Mr Kirton said that- the .business people should remember that if the Manchester Rifles were continued a year. or two longer that the Easter encampment would, in it j turn, be held here. At New Plymouth there' were 3000 men present, and the amount spent for each man was not less than Mo, in Palmerston the' number of people ' congregated must have been far more, and if the encampment was held here it would be a great benefit to the tradesmen. Mr Carthew scarcely agreed with Mr Morey 's resolution, there were 25 men yet in the corps and if each would get another man the thing would be done, and if the 25 were not able to do it, the three could not. He thought everyone, should do their best and then it would be, a success at once, and he would propose that all present be formed a committee. Mr Milson, considered Mr Morey 'g suggestion the best, for yery likely some of the men present could not act at all. Captain Pleasants,- said Mr Carthew's suggestion was a yery good one, but it had been tried last year and failed. - Eventually the resolution was "carried unanimously. .' ' ' At the close of the meeting several gave in their names to join the corps. . The usual vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. At the conference of, officers with thp Hon. Defence Minister. Mr Seddon submitted for consideration some points of his proposed' volunteer policy, all of which were aureed to' after discussion. The prominent points of the proposals laid before the Conference by the Minißter~were — 1. The improvement of the org&nisation at the centres ; 2. JFhe present ratios of capitationlto be guaranteed for three years;. 3. Eight half -day, parrades to be held during the year, to be paid for at the rate of2s6d per half -day, such parades to count towards general capitafcion. Officers to be nominated by the Commandant, who has already been ap. plied for to the Imperial Government, and who will have command of the Permanent Force and Volunteers, and the Officer: commanding .the district. The • Defence Minister, it may be noted, has some. idea of the proclamation of the eisj-t half-days as general holidays, but rliis is nrit certain, instead of-using the Militia Ac. Volunteers are to be en» rolled f-jr three yenrs.