VOLUNTEER CAPITATION MONEY.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 208, 18 December 1869, Page 4

VOLUNTEER CAPITATION MONEY.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —On looking over the Express of Saturday last I was not at all surprised to see the article on volunteering, as it appear to me that you never lose an opportunity of making any wilful misrepresentation against the volunteer to endeavor to bring them into contempt. I think there are very few, either volunteers or cadets, in any error as to the person by whose act they are deprived of the Capitation Money, neither did they suppose it came out of the Chest. The impression is so strong that it amounts to a certain knowledge of whose act it was by which the capitation allowance was stopped. As you seem to lay such stress on capitation being a Provincial charge, why did not Mr. Eyes use his influence when there was a motion before the House as to the Capitation being a Colonial or Provincial charge ? Though it was carried and allowed to be a Provincial charge, you may depend it never be .allowed to be a Provincial command, as you appear to want from your article, but all military commands will and ought to issue from the head of the nation. I fail to see any comparison in cricket, horseracing, and volunteers. Volunteers are allowed to be a great national benefit, and raised Britain greatly in the estimation of all European powers. What convincing proof our representatives may require they ought to have had they looked for them at the reported disturbance at Havelock. Did not our Volunteers declare their readiness to go without standing to wait, or ask who would pay them or put on their capitation ? Has not a number of them three times over placed themselves at their country’s service by offering to go

over to the North Island, but was not accepted. Should our country require any other proof and make a call for our services, there are those amongst the Volunteers if not fond of warlike sports as British subjects would with five minutes’ notice be prepared to leave their business and ready at their country’s service. In a war like the New Zealand war 1 consider it no stigma on the Wellington Artillery refusing to go to the front, as so many things may justify the proceedings, and there are plenty of men to be got who have nothing to do. And I can with confidence assure you though you think that those who objected in the Assembly acted wisely there are those with influence in the Assembly who think otherwise. E. Bythell, [We are always unwilling to say anything calculated to hurt the feelings of another, and regret when professional duty renders it necessary to do so, but after the unwarrantable accusation with which Captain Bythell commences his letter, forbearance on our part is impossible. We cannot with him say we “ were not at all suprised ” on reading his extraordinary production, having hitherto given him credit for more sense than he has displayed on this occasion, and before he again rushes into print would advise him to take a few lessons in grammar. We would strongly urge him to again read the article alluded to, and then turn to his own letter and try to discover its appositeness if he can. We know that the opinions as there expressed by him are not generally shared by the Volunteers of Marlborough, and therefore we are reluctant to go further into the subject at the present stage, but if Captain Bythell 'is still anxious to argue the point we shall be willing to favor him with our opinions upon Volunteering in New Zealand generally, and in this Province and district more particularly. —Ed. M. E.] > in