COLONEL FOX AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2746, 4 December 1894, Page 2

COLONEL FOX AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

SENSATION IN AUCKLAND. Auckland, Dec. 1. Considerable sensation has been caused in Auckland, owing to the severe strictures passed by Colonel Fox on the local volunteering, which is likely to lead to a crisis. In accordance with a request from Colonel Fox, who inspected the volunteers, a meeting of volunteer officers was held last night at the drillshed to further discuss the state of the volunteer defences of Auckland in respect to which Colonel Fox had made some - very trenchant remarks at the parade on the previous evening. Twenty-five officers were present. Colonel Fox, in opening the meeting, reiterated his remarks as to the inefficiency of the Auckland volunteers, who were far inferior to the southern men, and were greatly lacking in drill attendance. The defences in New Zealand were a farce. He would in his next., report, to ,the Government speak pretty plainly as to what he thought of them. He did not expect that the report would be published in the same form as before, but some of it was sure to be published. Volunteers must abide by the regulations. Without discipline volunteering was a farce. They were not efficient, and far from it. He repeated the remark that the refusal of the .companies to pay the gas bill was an act of insubordination. Referring to the u round robin” to which he alluded on the previous night, he denounced it as a contemptible, mean, and cowardly act. Several officers took exception to Colonel Fox’s sweeping remarks in condemnation of the Auckland volunteers, and explained the. difficulties they had met, and the want of support accorded them. One officer pointed out that years ago the Minister of Defence had promised to have the floor of the drillshed paved with wood. Nothing had been done, and the floor was now in a disgraceful state. One officer asked Colonel Fox to explain to them how these Southern Corps whom he spoke of so highly had attained that wonderful efficiency which he spoke of. Colonel Fox replied . that the officers required more energy, and to work harder.

An officer asked how it was that sensible men such as he said composed the Go* vernment tolerated such a farce aa he spoke of. Colonel Fos replied that he did not know, but possibly for political reasons. An officer asked Colonel Fox who in*, formed him of the existence of the u round robin,” adding that no such document existed of the knowledge of any of the officers, nor was Colonel Goring’s name mentioned in the matter.

Colonel Fox did not say where he got his information. Referring to the country corps, he said they were even worse than the town ones. The Hamilton Rifles, for instance, presented a disgraceful appear* ance, being filthily clad, with arms in a disgraceful state, and were only surpassed in filthiness by the Wairoa Rifles. One officer said that he had done his very best to make his Corps of Navals efficient, and was much disheartened by the Colonel’s remarks. ' Considerable soreness has been caused as the result of the meeting. At the Caledonian Society’s banquet last night, Captain Robertson, of the City Rifles, who has been a volunteer for thirtythree years, said he had never found an inspecting officer so objectionable in his criticism as Colonel Fox. The fewer visits he paid the better. If Colonel Fox paid these visits frequently he would very soon wipe out of existence every force in the district.