The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2618, 23 April 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1889.

Equal and exact justicc to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tin; Volunteer Easter Encampment, which has been lielcl at Hamilton, has brought us face to face with the volunteer system of New Zealand in all its existing details. The clearest opportunity lias been afforded of seeing its commendable features and its many imperfections. It must be admitted it is full of serious faults, which, unless remedied, must weaken the service as a reliable part of the defences of the colony. The greatest importance is now placed in the voiunteer army in Great Britain as an auxiliary arm, upon which the country can depend in case of an invasion by an external foe. '1 hey have been brought to such a pitch of efficiency and discipline that they are very little inferior to the regular troops, and can be regarded with thorough confidence by the country in the event of any emergency. Voluntary military service is no new thing to the English people ; it has been a conspicuous feature in their I national history since they became a nation. The same spirit in their character continues unabated to this | day, and renders the tryannous con- | scription of continental countries | unnecessary on our side of the Channel. Both naval and military volunteering was largely practised in our wars against France and other European Powers. The Volunteer j force became grafted on the defence ! system of Britain as a permanent branch during the late French Empire, when Napoleon 111 made threats of invading England, owing to the action of the English Government in connection with the Orsini conspirators. The people were filled with a sense of insecurity, having then only a small standing army, half of whom were in distant possessions. In a very short time the nation of shop-keepers stood to arms, and the French Emperor, with his legions of disciplined troops, paused before committing himself to cross the great ditch and face the citizendefenders of a nation whose ancient martial spirit he had roused The same thing had occurred in the time of the first Napoleon, who prepared to invade England, and nearly half a million volunteers mustered for the defence of their native land. The spirit of the race is unimpaired, Britons all over the world are ready at the call of duty and in the hour of danger, to take up arms in the defence of the national honour and guard their soil from invasion. But the science of war in modern times has made it imperative to train troops to act with intelligence, with mechanical precision and rupidity, and not alone with " bull-dog" pertinacity and courage. The bravest and most devoted of raw levies would be powerless before the discipline of to-day. The Volunteer Service in England is subjected to the rigour of military training, hence their wonderful effectiveness and reliability. The English auxiliary service has many advantages which the colonial service has not, but which are within the reach of the latter to a considerable extent. In the Old Country the volunteers exist side by side, and are brigaded with the disciplined troops of Imperial England, and can breathe the same military air and be animated by their proud traditions. The whole system is part of the Imperial scheme of home defences, is directed by the War Office, and commanded by Imperial officers. The companies exercise careful discrimination in the selection of their officers who, with very few exceptions, are qualified by position, means, and knowledge to be leaders of men. The corps are composed of men who are physically capable of hearing arms, and great attention is given to the admission of tho best stamp of men into the ranks. They are men who recognise the honour of the service, submit without chaffing to the commands of their superiors and to the severity of military training, as English soldiers are expected to do with that sense of obedience taught them in their youth. When we turn to the colonial system, the difference, difficulties and failings with which it abounds are soon seen. We have no regular army here; the Volunteers and Militia are our sole land defence, behind the first line of the batteries. The example to be gained by being continually associated with trained troops is not afforded the colonial volunteer forces. Hence it becomes all the more imperative, by these reasons, to make the system as perfect and reliable as possible in thu interest of the national safety. The fighting material is here in abundance ; perhaps, as recruits for active service nothing could surpass the colonial young men in physique and powers of endurance. But there should be a strict and careful observance in the selection of the raw material for the composition of our forces. A glance at the companies mustered in Hamilton was sufficient for any one, capable of forming a judgment, to come to the conclusion that there is no regard paid to selection; the ranks are filled up with the most unsuitable material as though the regulation quantity and not quality was the firai consideration. The consequence is natural, there is a painful laxity of discipline, the greatest essential in efficient and reliable soldiers. Tho unfit elements that compose tho rank and file are reflected in the choice of officers, who excellent gentlemen and citizens as they are, are often not the men who should be entrusted with important commands in the military service of the country. Mixed with many fine-looking soldierly men.

who looked and acted as though they respected themselves and the Queen's uniform, are a great number of mere lads, who should never have been admitted to any corps, until they were either old enough, or had been brought to a sense of duty and obedience. This admixture of good and indifferent material together with the absence of proper restraint cannot tend to inspire either officer or men with the respect for, and confidence in, each other that should exist in troops to whom the country looks for its defence in the event of an attack from an enemy skilled in modern science and efficiency. Under present circumstances we can understand how difficult it must be for executive officers to carry on the service with any approach to satisfaction. The system needs remodelling, for it is too serious a matter, to trifle with the state of defences. There is plenty of the best material in the country without using the unfit and worthless element. Numbers of trained Imperial officers are to be found all over the colony who would enter the Colonial service if sufficient inducement were offered them. The supervision of the colony's forces should be entire ly controlled by a well-paid and qualified Field Officer obtained from the Imperial Service, English officers should be employed in all the military districts, and, as far as possible, no officer, from captain upwards, should hold a commission unless he had seen service in the English Army, or had many years' training elsewhere. More restriction should be placed in the selection of commissioned officers by the corps, the men should not be accepted as members who do not come up to a fixed standard and are physically qualified, or are of sufficiently good character. Training in camps and garrison duty require to be made more effectual and general; at present the small amount of sucli training the volunteers receive cannot be sufficient to give the necessary knowledge that would be needed in the field. Employers who have volunteers in their establishments should, iu the country's interest, be more liberal and aliord greater facilities for their employees to go into the service and undergo all the training required. At tho same time the Government should give greatersupportbyinereasing the capitation and deal with more liberality in the annual prize-firing competitions. So, also, should drill be a compulsory part of the national school system as it is iu England. In the Old Country boys are taught early the habits of discipline and submission to lawful command, and as they become men they are already grounded in the first elements of a soldier's career. Were we to adopt the same wise course, the scenes of insubordination, misconduct and irregularity that we so often see in our colonials would be scarcely possible.