HINTS TO VOLUNTEERS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 383, 10 July 1889, Page 4

HINTS TO VOLUNTEERS.

The Defence Minister, in answer to questions pub to him, stated the reason why no money grants were made to volunteers to enable them to attend encampments, -was that it was the opinion that the corps should select for camping purposes ground which they would have to defend in case of war. The regulation, which excludes the rank and file froni membership of the finance committees of corps, was made on the strength of a recommendation from the commanding officers, bub if there was any general discontent on that account, or desire to rovert to the old position, he would give facilities for such being done. Companies weie still at liberty to form themselves into battalions if they choose, bub the old battalions had been dispensed with because the commanding officers reported that the coips in country districts, which had had little opportunity of battalion drill, were in a better state of efficiency, and more favourably reported on, than the corps in cities, which formed part of the battalions. Ifc was nob true that a C4overnmenb employee had half a day's pay deducted because he took part in the guard of honour at the reception of the Governor. The fact was that Iwo clerks who were employed in the preparations tor the sweating in ceremony, left their work to form part ot the guard of honour without consulting thensuperior officer, who had to engage other men to do the work they had left. If they had asked for the half-holiday there would have been no difficulty in obtaining it. CANTERBURY RUNS? Yesterday J\Jr J. Stewart (Waimate) moved the adjournment of the House to call attention to the advisableness of inserting in the pastoral leases of the Canterbury land which was lately sold, a condition enabling prospecting for gold or minerals to be carried on. The Minister of Lands read the clause in the Land Act which he thought effected the purpose. Messrs Duncan and Seddon urged that the provision should be more clearly defined. Mr Stewart having replied, the motion for adjournment was negatived.