South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2818, 5 April 1882, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1882.

The Board appointed to examine and report upon the condition of the Volunteer force, and to suggest a plan for its better organization, will be materially assisted in their, labors by the reports forwarded to- Government by Major-General Davidson on the Volunteers, and by Colonel Scratchley on our defences, (though, by, the way, the‘Colonel’s report was Before the, iGeneral’s). If the Board is composed pf men of any knowledge worth speaking of, they will recognise the practical usefulness of the hints. thrown out and the instruction conveyed by these , two officers, and adopt the repprj; as a gpodjbasis of action in their efforts to improve the efficiency of the military service of the colony. Colonel Scratchley wfent into the whole question of (defence, and. treated Volunteering incidentally. - He is- strongly in favor bf ;establishing thoroughly' efficient Naval Brigades in the various ports. In this the Colonel-has-;the entire concurrence of tfye . people of New Zealand. There, is , no..doubt; .if We 'are to "be in a “prepared.’,’ state, we must have bur harbors defended, by ’ a body of drilled men, equally expert- with the oaf and■the rifle, good shots and good seamen. Touching the Volunteer force, the Colonel’s recommendation, is .that a Strong force,. 500 men, should be piaiutained in a thoroughly efficient state at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, composed of 30 cavalry, 70 field artillery, and 400 infantry. He does not encourage the establishment :of corps in the interior of the .Middle Island, deeming them of little value for defence against foreign aggression. In bis recommendations re organization the Colonel is most precise and clear. We doubt whether our Volunteers have as yet paid enough attention to his deliverance on this subject. He insists upon continuous training, increased drill, early morning parades, and all the details of a military life, being carried out. It would be well indeed if the bulk of our Volunteers could go through these exercises, but we fear the prevailing habits, of most of our population are not in keeping with the Spartan discipline recommended by the Colonel. Major-General entered into a detailed review the Volunteer force. He doubts the' efficiency, in a sense, of the Volunteers as at present constituted. The want of an executive head, of a fixed system, of uniformity, and of a graduated scale of responsibility keeps the force from growing efficient in any, real sense. He would prefer a smaller force if better organised. And he very sensibly recommends the Govern ment to encourage as man y of the people as ' possible to become skilful marksmen, by assisting rifle corps and clubs. It is for the Board now to examine by the light of these reports, the existing condition of the I' 1 orco. We hope they will make a the Tough investigation and that a much-m ieded change in military affairs here will soon take place.