THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3691, 23 October 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1880.

While carrying out with thoroughness and vigor the necessary measures of retrenchment, the Government of New Zealand should bear injmind that the interests of an important dependency of the Empire must at all times be maintained. The civilian army—the Volunteers—is at once the cheapest and most efficient defence foroe that can be maintained without interfering with the productive powers of the colony. It is, therefore with some little trepedalion that we hear of, the sweeping economy contemplated in the matter of capitation grants. Command' ing officers hare hitherto found it a very difficult task to maintain bodies of wellequippel riflemen on the meagre capitation grant of £2 annually. According to the New Zealand Volunteer Service Gazette this is at once to be reduoed by one-half. Already officers find that the enthusiasm for which their men have long been noted is, owing to the scant acknowledgement accorded them, on the wane. Volunteer* ing is a source of continual expense to its votaries; the capitation grant is always anticipated - before due. The cost of clothing, rent of drill halls, gas and advertising absorbs the annual allowance from Government. Were it not for the munificence of those public spirited citizens who bestow prizes for shooting, the Thames Volunteer force would not have been kept together in efficiency for such,a length of time. Daring the 1879 session of Parliament the Government promised that the amount should be increased. The action of the present Ministry is in the direction of undiscrimi* nating economy. The ] k volunteer organ above mentioned says:—" If they want to do away with the Volunteers let them say so, and then the force would be able to understand them. But we cannot believe this to be the case; and their proposals are in consequence all th« more outrageous. We hare before argued, if the expenses connected with the maintenance of a' force of the present numerical strength are more than the Colony can afford, that the force should be reduced; and that those who remain should be properly equipped and drilled, and made thoroughly efficient. We cannot but think that Government recognise the value of an efficient and well-trained body of men, and we again ask that the services of a thoroughly qualified modern officer be obtained. If a man of the right stamp were secured, things would soon assume a very different aspect and with no increase in cost to the country. . . * And there are hosts of other reforms and improvements required which would at once occur to a man of good attainments and modern experience, and without which any radical change for the better can scarcely be looked for." We agree with our contemporary on the advisability of making the foroe efficient in the modern sense of the word. This cannot be done by sending antiquated retired officers to make periodical inspections. An experienced officer should be applied for from the Horse Guards, who should undertake the duties of Adjutant' General to the New Zealand forces. We cannot expect a Garnet Wolseley, but undoubtedly the Home authorities would meet us half Way ia any measure calculated to maintain the prestige of the Empire of which we form a component part. Another matter which we cannot but consider as likely to prove detrimental, if not disastrous, is the stoppage of the pay and allowance of the officers and troopers of the celebrated Waikato Cavalry. The great cost of maintaining this dashing regiment has fallen on the settlers of the Waikato, and the fifteen shillings daily pay received by the members during training, was but a fair recompense for the time bestowed in the service of the colony. The Waikato Cavalry of which Major Jackson is the - head, has undoubtedly held the Waikato natives in check for many years, and we fear that the numerical strength and efficiency of the regiment will become a thing of the past if such economy as is proposed be carried. out. We . are sorry that such dampers should be thrown on the volunteer movement in this colony, while year by year volunteering in the old country is being established on a firmer basis. With a turbulent native population, New Zealand cannot with safety diminish her means of internal defence. What would we think of a business man, who having insured his premises for a

number of years, ceases to keep up his policy when in close proximity to his premises a dangerous fireworks factory is established. This is the situation of New Zealand; the Maori race are the proprietors of the .fireworks factory, which we still hare to consider the danger of living in close proximity to, without adequate insurance against risks. We still hope a change will come over the spirit of the dream, ere such sweeping changes take place.