Volunteer Reorganization.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3951, 27 August 1881, Page 1

Volunteer Reorganization.

The Volunteer organ some few years since offered several prizes for the best essays on the reorganization of the Volunteer force. Sergeant Barlow of the Scottish Battalion, at that time lieutenant of the Engineers, was awarded the first prize of five guineas for a very able and exhaustive paper on the subject. It is likely that a. commission of Volunteer officers will .shortly meet to consider the reform of the present Volunteer system. As Mr Barlow's scheme was afterwards seconcK ;i similar terms in Colonel Scratchlej d report, a perusal of the essay will probably interest our Vilunteer readers :—

1. Control Department.—A competent staff of experienced military men is required to superintend the administration of the force, which staff" should consist of an adjutant-general, and quarter-master-generai with the necessary clerical assistants. The adjutant-general should be responsible for the efficiency of the district staffs, and of officers and men. The quarter-muster general should supervise the issue to the several district command* ing officers of all clothing, arms, ammunition, accoutrements, and other stores.

2. Instruction of Officebs.—A school for the instruction of Volunteer officers should be formed, at the general head quarters of the force, and under the supervision of the Adjutant General. Provision should be made by the Government for a sufficient sum to erect and maintain barracks, <fee, for residence of officers during the period of attending instruction, and for the free passage ef officers to head quarters and back to their respective districts; also for a sum to reimburse each officer bis actual expenses, conditionally on his obtaining the Adjutant General's certificate for efficiency. .1. Ajcnital iNsrErxrox.—The Adju-tant-General should, when no officers are undergoing instruction, be authorised to make a tour of inspection of the several districts of the Colony, and should examine any officers whose private affairs precluded them from attending the Head Quarters Military School In the case of any such officers failing to pass as efficients at the Adjutant-General's second periodical examination, such officer's services to be dispensed with.

4. Clothing.—The Government should authorise a uniform dress for each branch of the volunteer service, sealed patterns of which should bs deposited at tbe adjutant general's office ; each branch, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers, Infantry, and JSTavals to have a distinguishing button or badge to denote the JSew Zealand service. The uniforms of the regular British service to be taken as a guide. The component companies of each battalion should be clothed ami equipped alike.

T,he clothing should be provided by Government, who should contract for the supply of the different articles of clothing and kit required. 5. Capitation Grant —The capitation grant •could then be reduced to 15s per annum for infantry, and to £1 for artillery engineer, and naval volunteers.

6. Bonus fob Seetice —Every volunteer officer, after five years' service as an efficient, should be entitled to a bonus of £60, if .with two years service as a commissioned officer; £50 for non-commis-sioned officers, with at least two years' service as such ; £40 to a trooper, gunner, sapper, or private volunteer for five years efficient service.

7. Staff op Battalions.—lndependent Infantry Companies should be formed into, and' become companies of administrative battalions, with a lieut.-colonel, etc. The sergeant-major and fir9t drillsergeaut.of each battalion should be of the, paid staff. Tho first drill sergeant could rank as quartermaster sergeant, and with or. without an assistant, perform the functions of commanding officer's clerk. The pay of the sergeant-major should be fixed at a rate, say 10s per diem, so as to secure an efficient, drill instructor. Each colonial battalion should have a distinctive number and appellation. The battalions should each have two majors, volunteer officers. The senior major should be independent—i.e., without the command of a company; and a subaltern officer should be detailed quarterly to act as adjutant. V

8. Monthly Mustek.—At the usual monthly inspection of the battalion, the commanding officer's clerk should call the roll in the presence of the lieut.-colonel commanding.eachnon-commissioned officer and volunteer present passing and saluting the inspecting officer on answering to his name.. ■ ;

S). Disteict oe Battalion Dkill SBtED.—A paradd ground and drill hall capable of holding the battalion at quarter column should be. formed and erected at e^ch district or battalion head quarters at Government expense. Each battalion be embodied 'for fourteen days annually, and, if possible, be formed into camp for that time, not less than two-thirds of the enrolled members to be present. A weekly drill of two hours' duration should be called for Saturday afternoons throughout the year. The battalion should pass through a course of musketry instruction during the annual training. Whenever practicable, two or more battalions should be massed for brigade drill.

10. Camp Equipage.—Tents, camp equipage, and great coats should be issued, on requisition from the Q.M.G.'s department, for the annual training. At the conclusion of training, the stores should be lodged at the district head quarters for re-issue on an emergency, or the next training.

11. Rations.—During the annual embodiment contract rations of good quality should be issued at Government expense, or 2s 6d per mau per diem in lieu thereof.

12. Nominations of Officers, —The appointment of.-officers should be on the recommendation of the officers commanding districts to the Hon the Defence Minister, through the Adjutant General, and in no.case should officers be nominated by members of the corps. ♦ 13. CavaliEy, Aetilleey, and Engineehs, —Cavalry Volunteers should be attached to, and be under, the command of the senior officer of the district. Artillery batteries should be formed into brifldes, and; embodied at the port which affords the best facilities for gunnery practice and instruction. Engineer Volunteers should be attached to the local battalion, but at the annual embodiment should be massed at a central district for practice in field engineering. Sapping and mining tools should be issued from the Q.M.G.'s department.

14 Natal Volunteers.—A corvette or gun boat should be procured as the property. of ihe Government, and be officered and manned by a commander, lieutenant, boatswain, and gunner, with from twelve to fifteen petty officers and seamen on permanent pay. The gunnery ship should be stationed at intervals of time at each port, for the instruction of the officers and men of the Naval Volunteers in gunnery and seamanship, the commander "granting certificates of efficiency. . 15. Regulations. — The officers and members of the Volunteer force should be (while embodied) amenable to the provisions of the Mutiny Act, and conform as closely as possible to the Queen's Regulations. Officers retiring after seven years' service should be allowed honorary rank.

16. Tobpedo Corps.—The Artillery Volunteers should either be instructed in torpedo drill, or have a detachment as a torpedo corps at the principal ports of the Colony. •-...-..

The scheme of Mr Barlow is certainly well considered and exhaustive, and may well be quoted as containing valuable suggestions^ and practical data on which to reform the present lax Volunteer Service of New Zealand.