The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 764, 10 May 1877, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1877.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political # # # # #

Here shall the Press the Peoplf/s right maintain, Una wed by influence and unbribed by gain

In our last issue we, .'touched upon the question of the defence of our frontier, and showed the necessity of maintaining a force of at least 150 constables ready at any moment to take the field. Of course, m making this estimate of the number required, we took into consideration the fact that our Cavalry Volunteers, numbering between 100 and 150, are always available for rapid and effective defensive operations. Were it not so, doable the above number of paid men would not suffice to give to the district that feeling of security which must always be the basis of the investment of capital and consequent progress of settlement. We regret, however, to have to inform our readers that the most* important element m our powers of defence is soon likely to be wanting. The men comprising the Cambridge and Te Awamutu contingents complain bitterly of the inadequate remuneration and encouragement they receive from the Government, and threaten resignation en masse, and the consequent disbanding of the two corps. They complain that £2 10s. per annum is all they receive for twelve days' work m the service of the Colony, which sura is more than swallowed up m the cost of horsefeed alone while on duty. Until recently there was some compensation m the £30 worth of land-scrip which each man was entitled to hold at the expiration of five years' I service. This has now been abol- [ ished, and the bare £2 10s. capitation money is all a Cavalry Volunteer has to look to to defray [the expense of keeping a serviceable horse, finding him m forage and stabling during twelve days, providing his own uniform, feeding himself on drill days at an hotel, and to compensate him for his twelve days loss of time. The men say, naturally enough, the Government spend thousands upon thousands of pounds annually to keep the Southern Shooting Clubs going, the members of which will never fire a shot m defence of the frontier line, and neglect those who are ready to stand the first and most severe shock of rude 'war.. And they have reason on their side. How many volunteers would the Government get from Canterbury and Otago to take the field against a force of rebel Maories. On the other hand, how many of the settlers comprising the Cavalry corps m Waikato, would be lagging behind if real necessity occurred for armed opposition to the natives. We venture to say they could be depended upon to a man. The paid soldier, the hired service of men, however good and true, can never equal the determination of a man who is fighting for his house and land. And, a cavalry force is, of all others, the most efficient m the defence of a long line of frontier, studded with scattered settlements m an open country such as we possess m Waikato. The rapidity with which horsemen can move from point to point constitutes the value of their services. While foot-men were crawling towards a threatend settlement, a body of cavalry would dash down upon the enemy, and there and the check the progress which would have soon developed into a hideous massacre. We venture further to assert that, a finer body of cavalry is not to be found m the Colony than our Waikato corps — hardy, powerful men, as a rule, and well mounted. The total expense to the Government of the two companies, numbering 122 men, is only, at present, about £1200, which includes every kind of outlay requisite for their efficiency. Eight or ten constables would cost as much, yet, what a vast difference m actual power there would be between them and the 120 volunteer settlers. The Government cannot afford to dispense with the services of our local cavalry. They must provide defence, and this volunteer system is, at once, incomparably cheap, and is, besides, more efficacious than any other. Let the Government, now that no more laud-scrip is to be forthcoming, give each man £1 per diem for the twelve days service m each year, and pay a moderate salary to the officer commanding. This ' will, we believe, meet the views of i

the men, and keep together an organization which, from a financial point of view is of colonial importance.