The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 93, 1 March 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1876.

Tin: present gathering at Wanganui suggests the Volunteer question genera 11 v—a subject that is likely to be very seriouslv considered when .Parliament next meet. That the Volunteer movement should lie encouraged by all reasonable means no one can doubt, but that mere shooting accuracy should be the standard, by which volunteers should lie measured, is ((nest mnablo in the burliest degree. .It is notorious that manv on the roll of volunteers merely comply with such observances ot duty as will cause them to be maintained on the list of “ efficients,” in order lo he enabled to coni petit at the Colonial Prize-firing. More than that, it is at least more than suspected, that some commanding' oilicers are exceedingly blind to the ! laches’ of certain volunteers under their command, and, to sum up all, though the congregated corps at the annual meeting may represent the best marksmen, they do not represent the best soldiers, likely, in time of danger, to defend their country most successfully. At the present tint', when the a Hairs of Europe are in so critical a condition, when the least spark tnav ignite the magazine that will explode in a general war, a war in which (treat Britain must he dragged, it is more than ever the duty, as well as the interest of tin 1 colony, to prepare for any evil day that may threaten, l.t is true that the. maritime power of England is snliieieni to reduce the chances of harm to her colonies almost to a, minimum, still they exist, and a solitary hostile cruiser that could escape the sharp .surveillance of the Australian srpiadrou could do endless mischief where ports were entirely undefended. Hence the necessity for rendering the volunteers something more than marksmen, something more soldierly than to lie capable of striking a lifeless target, but aide to do duty in the Held, if occasion called. Though there arc prizes given for sheeting at an unlimited number of yards, there are none for general military proficiency, at least if any tiling approximating to such is given it is confined to the paid Colonial corps. Everything is sacrificed to shooting, shooting' only, as if that constituted the Alpha and the Omega of a volunteer’s catechism. That accurate shooting is one of the grand requirements of a military education of the present, day cannot bo denied, but that it is the "all in all, and that, to cultivate it, everything else should be neglected, is out of all reason. Yet, so far, that has been the whole end to which Colonial volunteering has been devoted, and surely it is time that reform in this respect should step in. During the last session of the Assembly, when the vote for volunteers was proposed. a very shrewd and thoroughly competent authority, Sir Cracroft Wilson. opposed it, on the ground that the proposed expenditure did not go to make soldiers, but to encourage shooting matches. This was about as true a criticism as has ever been uttered, and the annual gathering for Colonial Prizefiring proves its correctness incontestihly. Thc°volunteer cause has sunk very low now throughout the colony, and though, in making this assertion, we are likely to be challenged, we make it most confidently. Possibly a sense of security nmv have something to do with the apathy that unquestionably exists, but

tin; probability is that the little encouragement that has-been given to cfiieieney in military duties and science, in coddling the marksmen has been more prejudicial (o the service. Jn many places the Volnutc.-r movement is a sham. fn some the excitement, is maintained, and lull companies are the order of the day. hut in others, and their name is comparatively legion, the skeleton companies cannot muster more than a score at drill, and in one place, within the knowledge ol’ the writer, a hohhedelmy hand, that could not play tne simplest air, mitnumheivd the rcgimatt, rank and like commanding offie r ami all. The absurdity of such an army was duly appreciated by the ‘ gamins,’ and volunteering there became a farce. >So it is elsewhere, and so it will he unless a thorough reform in the system of volunteering is effected. What might bo a most valuable body is valueless, and sometimes ridiculous, whereas by stricter discipline, by greater encouragement to members to become soldiers, as well as marksmen, a corjis Second to none throughout the British dominions might bo raised without dillicnily, and one ihat would prove in the hour of need of what stuff they were composed of, and how wise had been the foresight that had dialled them to what they were. When the Assembly meet again it, is to be Imped that this all important math r will receive the gravest consideration, and that the Volunteer army of New Zealand may he placed on a far better and effective basis than it is at present.