OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 172, 24 August 1909, Page 4

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

SOME LOCAL HINDRANCES. The volunteering movement is in a very healthy condition in New Plymouth just now. Both the headquarters companies are at lull strength, and no dillieuily is experienced in maintaining the lull complement of members, without resort to vigorous canvassing amongst the young men. Indeed, it is suggested that there would be little diflicuity in establishing a third corps, and officering it, if tlie laeilitics for indoor and outdoor training were at all up-to-date. Jiut they are not. The present drill hall is in many ways unsatisfactory and insullicient. In the first place, the iloor space is inadequate. When there is a well attended parade—and happily large musters are not the rarity now that they have been in the past—it is impossible to place the men h '"extended''" formation. Wheeling and turning movements are quite out of the question. The hall has wretched sounding properties, and the word of command, no matter how clearly given, 's rarely distinctly heard. Then, again, the foundations at the north end are s,nking, until now there is a very considerable dip ill the iloor there, making foothold very problematical at times. Another important point, and one that cannot be too strongly emphasised, is the absence of a parade-ground attacli-c-d or in close proximity to the drillshed. A parade ground is au absolute necessity nowadays, for the day lias gone past when the volunteer could receive the bulk of his instruction and .raining indoors. Open-air work is not merely an adjunct to training, as it used to be, but by far the most important feature. The present Drill Hall stands on a valuable site near the centre of the town, and the only land belonging to it is that upon which it stands. So that the Drill Hall in New Plymouth stands condemned as a Drill Hall. This is a serious drawback to volunteering. How is to be removed? Just a while back reference was made to the fact that the Drill Hall site is a valuable one. So it is. It's too valuable altogether to be locked up as it is and made to do duty for a thing that it fits like a bee's wing on a bustard. Why not turn it into money and get into proper quarters? That's what is exercising the minds of some people just now.

A PROPOSAL. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the volunteer movement is one heartily deserving of public support. The m,":: .vho are giving .their time to voluuuci mg are men who are fitting themselves for the defence of their country, their homes, and families in the (lark day that may eoine. The volunteer gets no pecuniary benefit—in fact, very much to the contrary, he finds that volunteering costs time an 3' .money and inconvenience. Hie's performing a public duty. Here's the point: Shouldn't he lie supported by the public, and by the representatives of the people in \arious public positions? And is it asking too much of a public body to allow the volunteer to occupy for training purposes a piece of public ground that is now doing nothing but grow luxuriant rat's-tail grass and weeds? That's what Colonel Okey U asking of the Taranakl Education Board in respect of a portion of St. Michael's Square, more generally known us "Poverty Flat." Colonel Okey, officer commanding the Taranaki district, has elaborated a scheme for the sale of the present Drill Hall and the use of the resultant funds in the erection of a drill hall on a portion of the reserve, the idea being that the hall would he available for the school cadets as well as for the military proper. Part of our education system just now is the training of boys in the first principles of soldiery, and it was thought that, havi.ig openly identified themselves with the cadet movement, members of the Education Board would have been inclined to take a broad-minded view of the scheme suggested, a scheme aiming at Hie greater efficiency of our people in the art of defence. ' It need hardly be pointed out to local people that' the Square wonld make a capital paradeground, and. far from doing it any harm, the volunteers would more than l'kely be instrumental in improving the outlying portions of what is now a neglected-looking school playground.

A HOLD-TIGHT POLICY. . But when the matter came before the Board at its last meeting, its reception was at first hardly cordial. Mr. Trinicic moved that the request be not granted. Fortunately, however, although the •■ard was not inclined to rhapsodise ...er the proposal, there were one or ...o members who saw in the propnsjl ;i b:i ji good business and a possible a.!\...itii-e to the cause of education. So ihe iioard refused to th.ow the offer out, and took a mouth ~ deliberate. Provided the matter of i..ie can be arranged, the Board wouid do well to accept the oiler. In the interests of the cadet and volunteering movements we hope that it wide view will be taken, and the subject treated almost as a national affair.

Further afield in Taranaki, volunteermg can hardly be said to bo robust iu Site growth. The Stratford Rifles faded out of existence some time ago, owi ig to want of a suitable building and a general lack of support. Attempts are being made to resuscitate tho company, Major Malonc having taken the matter in hand. At Patea the volunteer company has just been revived, after a rather lengthy rest, and matters look promising, luglewood and Waitara companies are alive, whilst the EltUam corpa is, as it has been ever since its inception, full of vigor, the result of tho keen interest taken in shooting. The Hawera Rifles have not been too healthy in recent years, tut interest has been revived, and the tone of the corps is improving unde r its present efficient oflkership. •It is suggested that the country corps would do better if they were given a more tangible and frequent recognition by the battalion staff. The country parade-ground is not a favorite place of the staff-officer; in fact, there are fairly old volunteers in the various centres who have never seen a staffofficer except at big parades and Easter encampments. At present the town companies complain of an over-suppiy of staff officers, and nearly every parade is a battalion parade. Even at little personal inconvenience the battalion officers might attend the parades of the companies outside New Plymouth, and thus show that they really do care a little whether these corps live or die.