OUR DEFENCES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 399, 4 September 1889, Page 6

OUR DEFENCES.

COLONEL HUM FILE Y'S REPORT. Wellington, August 31. The annual report upon the defences of the colony was presented to the House last night. Colonel Humfrey says : — The work clone by the permanent artillery in mounting guns reflects the highest credit on those employed, but this part of their duties naturally interfered, until lately, with their work and instruction as artillery men. The services of two quartermaster sergeants, instructor from the R.A., weie obtained in June, 1888, and the batteries of the South Island have had the benefit of their services with the most satisfactory results. It is proposed shortly to transfer thebe instructors to the North Island in order that the men of the batteries at Wellington and Auckland may derive similar advantages. By the regulations published in March of last year vacancies in the Police and Prisons Departments are now only filled up from the Permanent Force. Concerning bho volunteer force, Colonel Humfrey says that judging from the few objections that have been raised, the amended volunteer regulations which came into force in January last have boen accepted by the force as an improvement on those übich preceded them. One of the most important changes has been made in connection with Naval and Garrison Artillery Corps. It has been frequently urged on their behalf that they had no legitimate duties to perform. This reproach has now been removed, and the bpecial training and instruction as at present established for these corps will eventually convert them into a valuable auxiliary force. As to the artillery and torpedo branches of the Permanent Militia, it is satisfactory to know (the Colonel says) that in one or two districts the new duties have been taken up with zeal and enthusiasm by officers and men which merit the highest recommendation. The frequent amendment of the regulations has a tendency to unsettle the volunteers, but it is believed that those now in force will be found sufficient for some time to come and to answer all purposes. While the present organisation and system exist it is a practical proof that the regulations have not had a detrimental effect on the force. It may be stated that the strength on 31sfc of March, 1888, was 147 corps and 8,064 men, and on the 31st March last, 134 corpp and 7,776 men, a diflerence of 13 corps and 28S men. When it is considered that the minimum strength of the 13 corps which have been disbanded amounts to 559 men, it will be seen that practically a 'numerical increase has taken place in the strength of the corps. The periodical inspections of the volunteers have proved, beyond their more immediate direct results to the force, that carelessness and maladministration are likely by their agency to be more readily detected and more easily rectified. The report urges strongly that in future the periodical camps should be held in some known and convenient spot to the batteries. Camps, the Colonel considers, are instructive, and essential for the performance of the duties they would in time of war be called upon to undertake. He makes use of the recent volunteer scandal at Auckland as an argument against the holding of camps at considerable distances from the centres of population, as there it is ?o diflicult to keep and maintain a proper discipline over men cooped up in laihvay carriages for a stretch of some hours.

COLONEL HUME'S REPORT. Colonel Hume, Inspector of Volunteers, in his report says : "My inspecbional work made it quite clear to me that if the present mode of paying the force by capitation is to be continued the amount per man must be increased. Even the infantry cannot live on £1 10s per man, while some branches huch as the cavalry and Held batteries, require special treatment of a considerably moie generous nature than they have received^ in the past." He advocate?, however, instead of thi«, the adoption of the system in vogue in New South Wales and Victoria, of converting the force into a citizen military force, and placing each man under contract to render certain sen ices in return for a certain pecuniary solatium, receiving pay in exact proportion to the rank attained and theservics rendered. This he considers the most s-atiofactory and economical way of obtaining an adequate defence force lor the colony. The Government should provide uniforms, and give a small remuneration for each parade attended or duty performed, and this, while not nearly so expensive to the taxpayer directly" or indirectly as the capitation system, would b« the means of providing disciplined soldiers up to the maximum required. The regulations in force in Victoria and Now South Wales do not prevent promotion from the ranks as occasions offer of those men who by their intelligence and diligence may earn it. This paid system would, he thinks, probably abolish much of the political element which has in the past permeated the ranks of the New Zealand volunteers to their detriment. In summing up the results of his inspection of the forces, he considers the most serious fault to which immediate and special attention should be given is that the officers and non-com-missioned officers are the weak points; that the corps want proper equipment and necessary medical organisation.

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