New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4457, 2 July 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1875.

The speeches of Major Atkinson and Major Stewabd, at Milton, on the 23rd ultimo, are calculated to create quite a flutter at head-quarters. These gentlemen have condemned the whole military organisation of the colony, and used language so uncommonly strong, that we can only hope to find an explanation of it in the somewhat festive surroundings of the occasion. Major Atkinson, who has lately retired from- the post of District Adjutant for Otago, was presented with an address from the officers and men of No. 3 battalion. Major Steward, who is also member for Waitangi in the General Assembly, made the presentation, and “later in the evening,” as the Dunedin S(ar explains, “ indulged in “ some plain speaking.” This veteran volunteer, who ‘ ‘ had seen something “ like sixteen years’ service, having been “a volunteer continuously since 1859,” certainly made his meaning uncommonly plain; and considering the report by Major Gordon, presented to Parliament last session, it was singularly free from any affectation of humility. Nothing, in short, could more effectually traverse Major Gordon’s report on the state and efficiency of the volunteer force of the colony than Major Steward’s speech.

If the inspecting officer made a truthful report, then Major Steward is altogether wrong ; on the contrary, if the Oamaru major be right in his conclusions, the official report is a gross fabrication to cover blunders at head-quarters. When majors differ so widely who shall reconcile them ? Civilians, in such a case, may be excused if they favor the opinion that both are right in the main. In other words, there is too much reason to believe that the volunteer force is thoroughly disorganised, and that the district officers have just grounds for complaint. But were all this true it would hardly bo a sufficient excuse for the strong language used on the occasion referred to. The faults cannot all bo on one side. We like fair play, and much as we respect the gallant officers who spoke their minds so freely in the Commercial Hotel, Milton, we think they went a great deal too far. Some good may, however, come out of the Milton outcry. It will induce men to think out the question for themselves. When the patient taxpayer asks himself, in his leisure hour, what he gets for the yearly expenditure of something like £25,000 on the militia and volunteers of the colony, he will find a most unsatisfactory answer in Major Gordon’s report, and the speeches of Majors Steward and Atkinson. Disorganisation, inefficiency, —a paper army, in fact; dissatisfaction in the ranks, heart-burning and jealousy among the officers, and “ red-tape” supreme at head-quarters : for all practical purposes, an armed mob. This language may seem strong, but it only faintly reflects the conclusions to be drawn from the veracious sources we have mentioned. And when the taxpayer comes to realise the facts as they- are, he may be excused if he takes an economic fit, and refuses to pay for an empty demonstration. For our own part, wo think the colony would survive the disbanding of the entire force. It would save a good deal of money which is now wasted, according to the very best authority ; and it would effect an indirect saving by not interfering with the ordinary pursuits of industry. In times of emergency, no doubt, the colonial forces rendered invaluable service ; but happily for New Zealand, the supreme crisis in its domestic affairs is past. The Native question is settled ; and having nothing to apprehend from domestic enemies, it has still less to apprehend from foreign invasion. We do not say that civil war or foreign invasion are impossible events ; but we do say that the chances are so slight as to render either highly improbable. It is mere waste, therefore, to spend large sums of money annually in keeping up a semi-military organisation which does not satisfy any one of the conditions of efficiency. At all events, there is no pretence for continuing this useless expenditure in the Middle Island. And for the matter of that, so long as the Armed Constabulary is kept in its present efficient state, we see almost as little reason for continuing it in the North Island. There is one district in the North Island which contains a numerous and well-armed Maori population, through the length and breadth of which European settlers are scattered, where the Militia Act has not been brought into operation, and in which no Volunteer corps has been embodied. Yet peace, and mutual confidence and respect prevail, as far as these are possible in the circumstances of the two races. AVe refer to the extensive district northward of the city of ’Auckland to the extreme limit of the island. Now, with this example before our eyes, one can readily understand how the preservation of the peace of the country may be left to the Armed Constabulary, and a few companies of Volunteers on our frontier lines in the interior, as a reserve force.

While we say this, however, we by no means wish it to bo understood that we are opposed to training our youth to the use of arms. By no means. We think drill should be made compulsory in every school, public and private, and that steps should be taken to accustom boys of proper age to handle the rifle. A sufficient knowledge of drill, and expertness in the use of the rifle, would thus bo acquired by the bulk of the male population at an early age. In this way the foundation of a large and effective force would be laid at trifling expense ; a taste for military exercises would be fostered ; and the country might safely rely upon her own sons to stand in her defence should necessity arise. • But this is altogether different from the military scheme of Major Steward, which is far too big for Hew Zealand. Indeed, it would be far move costly than the system now in force, and which is so unanimously and heartily condemned. There is, however, another aspect of this question which has not apparently occurred to the Milton majors and gentlemen of the military persuasion. It is the economic side of volunteering. When deploring the low ebb to which volunteering has sunk, it does not seem to have struck them that the cause may, in a groat measure, bo duo to the heavy pecuniary sacrifice which attendance on company drill—battalion drill is simply out of the question—imposes upon adult members of volunteer corps. Time is of far too much value to the industrial classes in New Zealand to vendor volunteering, as a rule, a very favorite pursuit. Of course there are exceptions, as in the case of Major Steward, and others like him who make it a hobby. The fashion of the times has also a groat deal to do with it. And volunteering is not now so fashionable as it was some years ago in the heat of the Maori war. if there were any extra excitement, an invasion scare or the like, there would bo no end of prancors, and the ranks would swell enormously ; but peace ; —slow, steady, ipethodical peace prevails, and the goose stop has consequently lost its charm. “If,” said Major Steward, “we did not adopt a compulsory “military system at once, it would “ be better to abandon the whole thing at “ once until public opinion came round. “ He had thought over this matter for “ some years, and he thought it was the “only alternative we had before us.” For once, on military matters, we agree with the gallant gentleman, and as public opinion is not ripe for a compulsory military system, better abandon the whole thing at once. If Sir Donald McLean takes the hint, the defence estimates will show an appreciable saving.