MASTERTON VOLUNTEERS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 30, 29 July 1867, Page 3

MASTERTON VOLUNTEERS.

A meeting of the Masterton Rifle Voluntcers took place at Masterton on the IGth inst, for the purpose of taking into consideration the position in which they are placed, as regards their services, by the wording of the 43rd article of the Volunteer Regulations. The Chair was taken by Captain Hare, who informed the meeting that, so far as lie was able to ascertain, the Land Act recently passed by the Provincial Council and assented to by the Superintendent was all that could be desired, granting to each volunteer, after 5 years service as an efficient member, the remission certificate in the purchase of land to the amount of £3O. But the 43rd article, which is the only one in the Volunteer Regulations which explains what is meant by the terra “ efficient volunteer” was written for financial purposes only, in order that the capitation allowance should not be retrospective ; but as the Volunteer Land Act has now become a fact and is to be governed by the length of time each man has served, whicii states, according to tiie wording of it: “To every officer of volunteers or efficient volunteer who shall have served five years,” without reference to when that period commences, “ shall he entitled to his remission certificate.” It is, therefore, quite evident that that article, the 43rd, was not intended to regulate the services of the volunteer force, for by it a volunteer who joiner the force in 18G3 was permitted only in June, 18G6 to be considered an efficient member, which is an absurdity. The soldier in the army after a few months’ drill in reported fit for duty without any deduction from his services for the period he has been under instruction ; anti the volunteer, under the Act of 1835, claiming exemption from Militia training, is allowed under the 25th section to reckon all his services. He (tiie Chairman) had no hesitation in saying that the Hon. Colonel Haultain, an old experienced military officer, would see that justice was done to tiie Volunteers.

It was then proposed by Mr Bentley, seconded by Mr C. Wilton, and carried unanimously “ That a letter be forwarded to the Hon. the Defence Minister, showing the position in which the Volunteers, who have continued their services under the Act of 1885, are placed, as regards their services, by the 43rcl article of the Volunteer Regulations, and praying for an alteration of the same as provided by the 19th section of the said Act and 50th article of tiie Regulations.”