OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2296, 12 August 1881, Page 3

OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sin, —I hear that an attempt is being made to form another Volunteer Corps in Christchurch, presumably in place of the Engineer Company about to be disbanded for insubordination. It Is as well that the non commissioned officers and rank and file 1 the Engineers should be made aware that in.' are ineligible for enrollment in mother coi ;i according to the 26th section of the Volunteer Regulations for New Zealand. As far as I can learn, the facts regarding this last mentioned corps are as follows : On the 15th Febrna.y lost, at inspection parade, two non-commissioned officers, who had been suspended from duty on or al cut tho 28th January by the officer commanding the corps, appeared on parade in uniform, and insisted on falliug-in contrary to his direct order to them not to do so. Such a breach of discipline is almost unparalleled, and is a distinct infringement of clause 38 of the Volunteer Act, which clearly states that all orders given verbally on parade by any authorised officer shall ha valid and effectual, Ac. I will not here enter into the matter as to whether tho suspension of these N.C.O.’s was just or unjust. No act on the part of a commissioned officer can form an excase for insubordination and disobedience of orders. It is to|be]regretted that the Volunteer Reputations do not commence with these words, “Obedience to a superior officer is the first duty of a volunteer.” The beforo-referred-to breach of discipline on tho part of the suspended non commissioned officers seems to have been followed by a general meeting of the company, who not only refused to parade for inspection on the 12th April last, but grossly insulted their commanding officer on his leaving the drill shod,escort!og b’m for a distance,hooting ,-nd using offensive language and singing an in suiting song. Can anything justify such a proceeding on the part of an enrolled volunteer corps ? The present regulations are absurdly mild, and meny difficulties are thrown la the way of the enforcement of proper discipline, but it surely behoves the Defence Minister to mark his disapproval of such rank mutiny, and in a most nnnr’stakable manner.

I myself have served in the regular army, and also in the volunteers, but my experience, I am thankful to say, has never made me a witness of such nnmilitary conduct. 1 will conclude by saying that I have uo connection with any Christchurch volunteer corps Tours, &c , FaUGH-A-BALLAGH. August Hth. 1881.