REGULATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS.

Southland Times, Issue 863, 11 December 1867, Page 2

REGULATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS.

A recently published Gazette contains the new Regulations for the Volunteer Forces. The following summary gives the principal provisions : — " The minimum number of men recognised by the G-overnment iv each troop of cavalry and battery of artillery, is twentyseven, and the maximum seventy-eight, while engineer and rifle companies may have as many a3 100 members and as few as thirty-seven. The different arms of the service rank in the following order : — Cavalry, artillery, engineers, rifles, and i naval ; and the relative precedence of combatant officers is determined solely by the rank and date of their commissions in the Volunteer Eorce of the colony, the rank of non-combatants being regulated by the same rule as is prescribed in her Majesty's army. All officers who have not previously held commissions in the Queen's service are expected to pass an examination as to their duties before they are commissioned, but while qualifying themselves for the duties of their respective ranks receive an acting appointment, which is cancelled if efficiency is not shown. Non-commissioned officers are appointed by the commanding officers of corps, and may be reduced for any sufficient cause by the Inspector of Volunteers, or (with the consent in writing of the officer commanding the district) by the officer commanding the corps. It is also provided that in adult companies of Volunteers no person below the age of seventeen, nor any apprentice, without the consent in writing of his master, shall be enrolled. Persons dismissed from any corps for misconduct are not eligible for enrolment in any other corps, and every volunteer must give at least three months' notice prior to resigning, unless it be his immediate intention to leave the district, when a fortnight's notice is deemed sufficient. On the subject of parades, the new regulations are very properly stringent. First, it is provided that inspection parades shall take place once a month, and that any officer of Volunteers who shall absent himself from such parade without the permission of the officer who shall order the same, shall be liable to have his commission cancelled, or to be at once dismissed from the corps, as the case may be, or to pay a fine of £1. The same penalty is attached to absence from annual parade, and to disorderly or insubordinate conduct. Absence of a volunteer from any state ceremony, such as guards of honor, &c, entails a fine of ss ; and foul or dirty arms or accoutrements, a fine of 2s. It is further provided that when both are in uniform, Volunteers will invariably salute all officers, whether of militia or Volunteers, as also those of her Majesty's service, and that officers will return the compliment. The next important portion of the new regulation, is that relating to pay and finance. The clause in the rules on this subject is as follows: — Officers and Volunteers (excepting officers of the permanent staff) when out on actual military service in the field, or when doing garrison duty, shall receive the following rates of pay, with a free ration when on the field : — Lieu-tenant-Colonel, 23s per diem, with forage for two horses ; major, 19s per diem, with forage for one horse; surgeon, 18s per diem ; captain, 14s 7d per diem ; adjutant, 2s 8d in addition to regimental pay, and forage for one horse; quarter-master, 12s 6d ; assistant surgeon, 13s ; lieutenant, 9s 6d ; ensign or cornet, 3a 3d ; staff sergeants, ss ; sergeants, 3s 6d ; corporals, 3s; trumpeters or buglers, 2s 6d; privates, 2s 6d."