THursday, august 16jj, 1877.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 806, 16 August 1877, Page 2

THursday, august 16jj, 1877.

If ever a Ministry thoroughly mastered the arb of "How not to do it " in smaller matters relating to the administration of the Departments, ib is the Ministry which now sits on the Government Benches in the New Zealand Parliament. Like Agrippa listening to Panl, they are almost persuaded, but like Agrippa, they never fail to put off the execution of their good resolves to a more convenient season. We had thought that the matter of increased pay to the Waikato Cavalry Volunteers had been fully recognised by the Government, and that holding the exceptional position they do from other Volunteer corps, that of keep, ing themselves and their horses in readiness for taking the field at any moment for the defence of the district, and thus rendering unnecessary a paid cavalry force in cooperation with the Constabulary stationed in the district, and giving up, as they do, a week twice in each year to drill instruction and parade, their treatment by the Government would have been exceptional also. They offer their personal services, they provide their own mount and trappings and maintenance during the fortnight of drill, and they very naturally say that, if they give their personal service, the Government should, at least, bear them harmless of actual ex; enditureoufc of pocket. Theirs is no fancy soldiering, It is not the devotion of an hour or two to parade that would otherwise be idled in the billiard-room, or dozed away before breakfast, but a solid week taken twice a year from their daily occupation and farms. It is, in fact, actual service — saves the Government the pay of so many extra Constabulary in the district, and is worth far more to the Colony than the amount asked by the Cavalry Volunteers, a sum of one pound per day while on parade, which would about cover expenses. Yet the Government, when pushed on the matter, can see nothing exceptional in the case of the Waikato olunteer 1 Cavalry. The following telegram, which we have received from a member of the Assembly, shows how they intend to shuttie out of a

just recognition of, (he claim made on them — :^ Government Buildings, ,~ • Wellington, August 14. ft is not proposed to deal exceptionally, in the mutter of pay, with the Waikato Cavalry before a Minister vffits the dii•jrict. and euquireg into oirwiiAtaabet f Now, this is Biraplfi|^meji||>& of' Shelving the questior|| : Th^| twill not risk a point blank : baVJ adeptß in the art of how^hofc to do it, imply an intention which postpones the matter for a time, and leaves-them-perfectly^free to wriggleput of the obligation altogether at the last if it suits them to r do so.' .Ministers,-* forsooth, ■- would - have^ enough .to do ,if one of them were to visit every" district to make- himself acquainted with the circumstances of every subject: for administration of no more importance than this. Eor what purpose is the Colony overspread with a perfect network of Government officials, if the head of a Department has no one through whom he may accurately post himself upon local requirements and circumstances ? It is well for the Government to economise in. every 1 possible direc* tiou, but it would prove false economy if, disgusted with the treatment shown to them, the Volunteer Cavalry in Waikato were to disband, and to replace them it became necessary to strengthen the Waikato outposts by eighty or one hundred additional men of the Armed Constabulary force. It will be seen that an extraordinary meeting of the Te Awamutu Cavalry Volunteers has been called for Monday evening.