THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1881. COLONEL READER’S REPORT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2308, 27 August 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1881. COLONEL READER’S REPORT.

To cry “ peace where there is no peace ” is, we are informed on very competent authority, the part of individuals whoso moral perceptions have been considerably dimmed by a course of life the reverse of godly. Without in any way wishing to include Colonel Reader among these wicked persons, wo cannot help feeling that he has, in his official capacity, imitated them so far as to cry “ peace whore there is no peace.” His Annual Report on the Volunteer Force, a summary of which appeared in our issue of yesterday, is one of the clearest instances of smoothing over unsmooth things that wo have mot with for many a long day. A person unacquainted with the facts of the case would imagine from

its peruaal that the Volunteer Force all over the two islands was in a most satisfactory condition. Now wo are not going to refer in any way to the state of Volunteer affairs in the North Island, for we presume that, whatever that state may be, public opinion will make itself heard on the subject through the medium of the public journals there, but this we do say, that, as far as regards Volunteer matters in this Province, Colonel Reader’s report is apparently not worth the paper it is written on. Although we are not yet in possession of the text of the report, we take the liberty of dealing somewhat trenchantly with the subject, it being evident that Colonel Reader has only generalised throughout, and that the tenor of his reflections is faithfully given in the telegraphed summary. For had any remarks specially bearing on Canterbury been introduced, wo may bo very sure that our correspondent would have alluded to them. And, besides, it may well bo asked what does Colonel Reader know of Volunteer matters here? Naturally nothing. "We are never favored with the light of his official presence, and, as far as knowledge gained personally is concerned, he might just well report on the Ashanteo army as on volunteering in Canterbury. Wo see by the report that the number of Volunteers in the South Island is nearly as largo as that in the North, the numbers standing respectively at 4350 and 4619, cadets included. It is true that the Nativo difficulty in the North may he said to render the efficiency of the Volunteers there of more importance than that of the Volunteers in the South, but, even taking that into conconsideration, it does appear somewhat strange that Colonel Reader cannot spare a little of his time for the Southern Volunteers. He certainly has other duties than that of inspecting Volunteers, but what we complain of specially is, that he reports generally on the efficiency of the Volunteers, when, in point of fact, he personally knows next to nothing of what takes place at all events, in one of the largest districts of this island. In view of the avowed determination of the Government to entirely reorganize the Volunteer force in the colony, and in face of the fact that a largo sum has boon placed on the estimates for that purpose, the tenor of Colonel Reader’s report is still more extraordinary. Let us put the matter plainly. The Colonel’s employers recognise that a certain service is disorganized, and announce their intention of spending a considerable sum of money in setting matters straight. The Colonel himself, who is in charge of that service, on the other hand, declares that everything in connection with it is in a most efficient state. Which side are we to believe ? Either the Government is wrong or Colonel Reader is wrong. Either the Government has been misled or the Colonel has acted the part, unintentionally no doubt, of the wicked man, and has cried “ peace where there is no peace.” We have little doubt as to which view of the case the Canterbury Volunteer will favor. He will hold to the opinion that, as far as this district is concerned. Colonel Reader is reporting on what he has absolutely no special knowledge. He probably, from information received, has thought it best to consider that Volunteer matters are progressing swimmingly in this district. The Government hold a different opinion, but Colonel Reader, like a martial ostrich, has thought it better to bury his head in the sand, and to utter the old stereotyped cry of “ All’s well!” We cannot congratulate the Colonel on his acumen. If he had once taken the trouble to read the signs of the times he might, altogether apart from the action of the Government, have recognised that the public here are little likely to put up calmly with a report so utterly misleading and superficial as the one we are referring to. When a crying evil exists, and the official, whose business it is to see to the matter, calmly declares that all is “ couleur de rose,” persons are apt to declare that that official is most uninformed. And when that official is, besides, reporting in the very teeth of the action of his employers, persons are apt to further declare that the sooner he learns his business the better. But Colonel Reader has at least made one recommendation. He has suggested a revision of the Volunteer Regulations, the work to be entrusted to a Board of Volunteer officers of experience in the force. The regulations in question certainly require revising, but we trust the Government will he very careful in the choice of the persons to act as re visors. Long standing in the force does not unfortunately in all cases mean efficiency. The “ good fellows” who at drill are so apt to exasperate the confiding victims who have placed them in command, should surely be barred from carrying their very primitive ideas on military matters into force. Colonel Reader’s suggestion is a partially sound ono, but wo should prefer to see the revision entrusted to ono or more experts not too deeply permeated by the present system.