Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 1 October 1892, Page 2

Volunteer Items

The Manchester Bifles paraded in the Assembly Booms on Thursday evening. Lieuts. Kirfcsn and Bray, and thirty-one non-commissioned officers and men were present. Dr Sorley, the surgeon of the corps was also in attendance. The men were exercised in company movements and made fair progress. Before the parade was dismissed Lieut. Kirton pointed out that the unsatisfactory state of affairs in the East made it the duty of every young man in the colony to do his level best to keep up the strength and efficiency of the Volunteer force, because they did not know the moment when their seryices might be required to repel a foreign foe. There are several vacancies now and recruits will be taken on at once, so that they may learn their drill, although they cannot qualify for capitation this year. The outlook in the Indian frontier not being very bright, and the anticipated difficulty with Russia anent the sealers has assisted the recruiting of volunteers in the seaports of the colony. In one of the Wellington corps now an entrance fee of 10s is charged and the candidate must be physically fit as a soldier. As soon as the Manchester Bifles settle down steadily to work again Dr Sorley will undertake the instruction of an ambulance squad. The wisdom of holding the parades in the Assembly Booms is shown by the increased attendance of members at drill. In an article on " Colonel Fox and the volunteers," the Catholic Times says :— It is with satisfaction we notice that Colonel Fox is honestly endeavoring— despite the evident calmness with which bis efforts are regarded by the Minister for Defence — to reorganise the Volunteer Force of this colony, and make it of some practical service should occasion arise for us to defend our shores against an invader. During his inspection of the various corps, Colonel Fox has, on several occasions, in-the most direct terms, pointed out the faults and shortcomings of officers and men, and from opinions so expressed we understand the Colonel to regard the incompetency of the com* missioned and non-commissioned officers as responsible for the present inefficiency and unpopularity of the service. We have at various times pointed out that id many districts it was customary to elect as officers men who were physically and intellectually unsuited for such positions, and whose only recommendation was impudence, " push," or a doubtful reputation for being" jolly good fellows." That Colonel Fox does not intend to allow this state of things to continue, is satisfactory.