OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 248, 23 April 1895, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— With reference to the recent unfortunate experiences of the Volunteers, and their admirable bearing under the extremely trying circumstances, the Premier has given utterance to sentiments with which everyone must agree. Yes, the Volunteers have done right royally as you say, Mr Seddon, but their devotion to duty has been dearly bought on this occasion, and it now remains for the Government, whom they were serving, to show that they will also rise to the occasion and do their duty by the men. We are not aware whether the Volunteers are to be recouped the extra expense they have been put to, but, if not, it will be an ineffaceable disgrace to the Government and country. The men were in camp as servants of the countryi and in obedience to orders ; they were soldiers under military discipline, from the time they left their homes until , dismissed on the home parade, and it would be ju9t as reasonable to expect ( them to |pay their own keep as it would i be in the case of the regular service. New Zealand expects every man of her . Volunteer service "to do his duty," and , they have done it. She now expects her ( Premier and Defence Minister to do his. ( The least he can do is to allow the men 5s a day from Tuesday until their ] arrival home. j I am, etc., ( T. Watson. (