VOLUNTEER CONSOLIDATION BILL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2276, 19 July 1881, Page 3

VOLUNTEER CONSOLIDATION BILL.

[By TBiBaaAPH.J [JEOM THK OWN COEBKSPONDBKT OV THE "PBBSS.'M WELLINGTON, July 18. The Volunteer Consolidation Bill introduced in the Legislative Council by the Statutes Consolidation Commission, consolidates five Acts regulating the Volunteer force, viz.:—The Acts of 1865, No. 53 ; 1866, No. 67; 1867, No. 38; 1870, No. 88; and 1874, No. 65. In the original Act of 1865 there are references to officers of the permanent staff who have existence now. The new matter suggested renders the clause more elaßtio. Special provision is made for constituting districts. In the previous Acts reference was made frequently to districts, but there was no power to define them. In practice militia districts were recognised as Volunteers* districts. The new clause permits this to continue if deemed advisable. Clause 15 continues all corps in existence at the date of the paesing of the Act. As a corps has power to vest its properly in trustees there is a conflict between section 3 of the Act of 1867 and section 30 of the Act of 1865. The words necessary to rr-ike it clear that the property of a corps shall only vest in the commanding officer where thero are no trustees are inserted. Certain clauses from the English Volunteer Act of 1863, and Amendment, 1809, are suggested as being useful provisions for recovering money due to a corps, and for the protection of its property. The following amendment is suggested :—" At present, if there is no person who was a commanding officer of a disbanded corps a meeting is to be called by the adjutant of the permanent staff." There is frequently no such offioer, but there always is an officer commanding the distriot, and to him it is proponed to give the necessary power in case of need. Provision is omitted making Volunteers liuble to the Mutiny Act when undergoing inspection. It appears to have crept in by inadvertence, and waß evidently founded on a provision of the Imperial Act of 1863 for putting Volunteers for the purposes of inspection under the general officer of the regular force. A clause is suggested to get rid of any doubt as to the application to the Volunteer force of the Acts quoted.