OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 148, 20 August 1880, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

To tiik Editor. Sir,— l am surprised at the silence of the papers on the report of Major General 1 iavidson on the volunteers, lie condemns the whole of the Marlborough Volunteers except the Blenheim Company, and no one who is acquainted with the subject expected anv other report, but 1 think, and I believe all the Marlborough Volunteers will agree with me, that the General has, in laying all the blame on Sergeant Kennedy’s shoulders, saddled the wrong horse : no doubt the Sergeant deserves a little censure, but why should Major Baillie get off scot free. Major Baillie, the paid adjutant and commanding officer of the Marlborough Volunteers has been receiving from £IOO to £2OO a year for the last 10 years, and if he is not responsible for the inefficiency of the volunteers, and the retaining of Sergt. Kennedy as drill instructor, what has he been drawing the taxpayers’ money for all these years? He attends the monthly inspection of those companies who have inspections ; and.how is it he has allowed the Picton Company to drift into such a state as to warrant the censure passed upon them by the Inspector. The Picton Company is, I believe, the oldest in the province ; Blenheim the youngest; the Picton is the worst drilled,—Blenheim the best, and I argue from this the longer the volunteers are under such officers as Major Baillie, the worse they will get, as no one can deny the Picton Company were far better 10 years ago than now. Had Major Baillie done his duty, and insisted on regularattendanee and competent drill, turning out of the companies all those who did not attend, both Sergeant Kennedy and the volunteers would have been efficient. I hope the Government will strike off the amount hitherto paid to Major Baillie for travelling expenses, as he travels by railway free; and insist on his doing his duty, so that when an another inspector comes round let the blame he put on the right shoulders, and not allow a man io escape from well-merited censure because he can write after his name M.L.C. —I am, &c., Snidkr.