Correspondence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1266, 6 March 1872, Page 2

Correspondence.

[We do not in any way identify ourselves with the opinions of correspondents.!

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HAWKE's BAY TIMES. g IR) —That the Volunteer movement U popular in the neighboring provinces of this Colony, and aNo in the various other colonies of the Australasian oroup, is, I believe, beyond doubt a tact, the existence of which must bevery pleasing to all who take an interest in such matters. That the same movement finds but scant favor in the Province of Hawke's Bay at the present time is also a fact which few will be found to deny, and which I for one am very lolh to admit. But the fact remains the same, however much it may be regretted, and it behoves thos:e who have the control of matters military in these pans to set to work, and by judicious management, prevent one of the greatest movements of the age from be coming a thing of the past. Beyond a doubt, one of the reasons why volunteering is unpopular in Napier is to be found in the usually unseasonable hours at which parades are held; and another may be discovered in the unsuitableness of a great deal of the instruction imparted at those parades. With-regard to the first reason, allow me to observe that in Australia, where the Volunteer movement is very popular, morning parades are unheard of; so they should be here. Monthly inspection parades should be held at night, when the moon is full. The inspection of arms and accoutrements might be made in the drill room, and afterwards, let the company adjourn to Clive Square for the purpose of drilling, &o. And I might also suggest giving the men a march-out at least once a month. This latter, would I feel sure, become highly popular in a very short time. Another step towards making volunteers take an interest in the movement —above all things necessary—would b& the giving by the Provincial Government of prizes to be competed for every year by efficient volunteers, and of sufficient' value to make it worth the while of intending competitors to spend a poition of their time in practice.. There is another little matter f would refer to before laying aside my pen. [t is the distribution of prizes, medals, &c., won by Volunteers. 1 have sufficient faith in the influence of the fair sex over men to believe that if some ladies were occasionally to distribute these same prizes, &c, a great impetus would be given to the movement. Some may smile at the idea of such a trifle exerting so much influence ; but I believe that it would, and I hope my suggestion may meet with consideration. With your kind permission, Sir, I may again recur to the subject of the foregoing notes, it being one in which J take considerable interest. — T am, &c , March 6, 1872.