New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4212, 19 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1874.

We refrained from noticing the report of Major Gordon on tlie Volunteer Force of the Colony until we had the opportunity of perusing the whole of its voluminous contents, feeling sure that if we did not adopt this course we should do injustice to either the gallant Major or the Force he had been charged with the duty of inspecting. After carefully reading it through, we can have no scruple to say that the publication of isolated portions of it —the tit-bits, as some people considered them--has been most unfair to the pixblio, tbo various companies concerned, the Force taken as a whole, the .officers commanding, and the Major who in-, speoted. When the report was laid upon the table of the Legislative Council, bon. members, with more discretion, objected to certain picked portions of it, alluded to by Colonel Brett, being read, as such a selection might not give a clear idea of what the nature of the report really was. Some lion, members even objected to it being printed, and although we quite recognise the right they all possess, if they choose, to have copies of it so that they may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it at thenleisure, we are confident no good could result from it being made public for the delectation of either members of the Force or the community at jarge. This is a remark that may lie made without either questioning or admitting the propriety of the censures that the Major certainly cast, upon certain corps, and upon the officers in command of them. He"was appointed to inspect and report, and if lie accepted the responsibility he had a right to execute his , duty without fear or favor, and not conceal what he conceived to be irregularities or delinquencies. That he would give offence by doing this was tolerably certain ; and ;is the public know that ho had made his round, there was no cushioning Ilia report if the appearance of it were demanded. Had the Government attempted this the damaging conclusion would have been drawn that there was something relating to the Force the knowledge of which it was considered desirable to conceal. Ksally, there is nothing of the kind. A few officers of a force 0000 strong • may not be the most desirable men for their positions, in the eyes of a military man. There is, we suspect, some truth in the impression certainly prevailing that the military have rather a contempt for all sham soldiery, and, if this loads to a greater pride in their own professson, and proficiency in it, they are very welcome to the feeling. But sensible men will not forget that amateurs are not to be judged by the same standard, or criticised from the same stand-point, as professionals. We must not regard Volunteers with the eyes of a martinet. The report is divided into two portions, the one being general, and treating of the Force as a whole, whilst the other is minute, and treats of separate corp>s. If the former only had been published, all that was required in the interest of the public or the corps, would have been done that was required ; but as this course was not adopted, to 'affect ignorance of the other portion would be idle. In the more general part of the report, the Major informed the Government that he thought the capitation grant did not produce a force with the efficiency that it, should possess, and that commanding officers too often drew it' for Volunteers who could not be deemed' efficient ; as, according to' the 30th clause of the Itegulatious, they ought to be. For this he does not blame the men, but their officers. He strongly condemns the conduct of some portions of the Press of the Colony for tho mendacious comments sometimesrnado on tho Force, and sometimes lauding it without any reason in the world. In many cases in which tho Volunteers were not so perfect as they should be in drill, Major Gordon thought tho lack was to be traced to tho inefficiency of tho drill-, instructors supplied by tho Government. Also, lie takes into account tho changing character of the Force, causing* many Volunteers to bo merely recruits, and tho demand that exists for labor not permitting many to drill to the extent they could wish. But, speaking of them as a whole, ho says I must record my respectful opinion—ln opposition to tlie habit, which ha* become so prevalent of into, oC decrying find denouncing, in Uarsli and unmeasured

terms; the services of the Volunteer Force that the services which have been rendered to the country at largo by Volunteers in times of need and calamity which are past, and which still continue to be afforded so far as the recent altered and happy state of things will permit, should not bo either forgotten or lightly’ esteemed. With resncct to those who do habitually attend drill, I am able confidently to state that there could not exist a more intelligent, obedient, and apt, body of men, when under proper management—men who deserve every consideration and encouragement. Why they attend drill at all, in view of the contemptuous and prejudicial opinions which, in numerous and influential quarters too, are given expression to with respect to the Force generally, is a matter of much surprise. It can only be from a total ignorance of the subject of which they, doubtless, suppose themselves to be complete masters, that such poisons are led to malign, a Force whose gallantry and patriotism, from the earliest introduction of the system, have been tested in countless instances. After so high a compliment had been paid to the entire Force of the Colony, it does not seem that the members of the various Wellington corps need feel umbrage at being told they would drill better if they had a better instructor, or that the Government should be recommended to place two or three instructors from the Armed Constabulary Instructional Depot at the disposal of Colonel Reader. The corps composing the artillery company was described as (( in appearance and as regards uniformity of equipment, physique, etc., ontP 1 which could scarcely be excelled.” Attention was drawn to the regulation requiring members o£ each corps in the City to earn an “ efficiency certificate,” and then the Major proceeded to review the Hutt Corps, which ho described as being promising, but the report added— It was unacquainted with what tho regulations imperatively require that every Volunteer should know, viz., a “ knowledge of squad and company drill.” On inquiring why this corps had not been instructed in these points. Major Ludlam intimated that he only permitted it to be practised in such movements as ho considered would be useful on service. How Major Ludlam, or any other officer, certified under their hands that the men of this company were efficient Volunteers, and possessed a knowledge of squad and company drill, and thereby obtained capitation for them, I cannot understand. This corps performed one or two movements light drill with tolerable precision : but I do not think that the experience of Major Ludlam, or any other officer, with respect to what manoeuvres would be useful on service, should be allowed to supersede what is expressly laid down as the course of drill in the Volunteer Regulations, and then to certify in writing that Volunteers know what they do not know. In the Masterton and Greytown districts the Major found ; Majors Bunny and Smith, and a ’paid Adjutant, Captain Cleland. These Majors, I assume, hold commissions in which certain duties arc imposed upon them by His Excellency the Governor, but nfcither of them ever appear on parade, so that I had no opportunity of forming an opinion as to their qualifications to hold commands. A glance at the annexed returns will show how attenuated is the strength of the corps under their charge, and with so few men drill is out of the question. The Masterton Rifles, however, passed creditably, as, in a lesser degree, did tho Carterton Rifles. When I inquired from the members of the other small cox’ps of these districts, why they had not transferred themselves to other larger companies, their reply was “that they were holding on to see ; what would turn up.” I suspect that if there were a smaller number of Majors, or no Majors at all, in the Wellington, Masterton, and Greytown districts, an improved state of things would be brought about. These districts might very well be amalgamated, with a staff of one commanding officer and two suitable drill-sergeants. Instead of embracing, as at present, one lieutenant-colonel, four majors, one captain, and two sergeants. Major Bunny’s Greytown Rifles number ten, and they turned out three strong on parade to bo inspected. Tho Cavalry number twelve, and mustered six, and the Featherston Rifles twenty, of which fourteen were inspected. Of the- Wanganui Volunteers Major Gordon -reported : Of the three corps in this district I am able to speak very favorably. Tho Wanganui Rifles' were able to perform every movement required of them with great steadiness, and I had not seen tho “ bayonet exercise ” gone through so smartly as it was done by this company, which also seemed to have paid special attention to class firing, for it had twenty-five marksmen in its ranks, Tho Cadet Company promises to be a good one, and appeared to take much pleasure in skirmishing. The Alexandra Cavalry arc expert 'riders, and, after executing the ordinary movements of parade, performed sword pursuing practice over a series of fences which they had erected for the purpose, without any mishap—a feat not likely to be attempted successfully by any but corps who reside altogether in country districts, and who ride their own Of the Rangitikci Force, the Major reported : I was fortunate in finding three troops of Cavalry, four companies of Infantry, and one Cadet Company of this district, assembled at Marion on the 27tu of June to witness the presentation of the Cadet Champion Bek to Ensign Chapman, of the Cadet Company, and took advantage of their presence for a very extended drill inspection. . With this force on the ground, company, battalion, and even brigade drill were indulged in, and tho various corps behaved exceedingly well, being evidently much pleased at having the opportunity of taking part in a more advanced description of-drill than they had been accustomed to. These Cavalry corps, like that at Wanganui, are fit in crerv respect for any field service which might be required from them, and for employment in their own district their services would be invaluable. The portion of the report that calls for least comment is .that relating to a Thames Company - which appeared on parade with a drunken Sergeant, and an insubordinate Captain. This is generally dealt with as follows : The No. 1 Hauraki Company has ceased to exist since my visit, for insubordinate proceedings in connection with my inspection, induced, no doubt, by the example of its Captain, whose conduct, and Volunteer irregularities in general in this district; are here brought under your observation, as well as in a communication from Major Cooper, in which I understand that officer recommends the disbandment of the Company, and gives his reason for making the request.

The Major 'thinks that the arms fii the hands of the Volunteers are, for the most part, worn out, and. should be called in, aftov which breach-loaders should bo issued. The uniform he recommends is one of rifle green. The report on the Wellington Corps was referred to Colonel Reader, who replied to it at some length, pointing out that several of the men wore recruits, but had, on tho whole, he thought, acquitted themselves creditably when inspected.