THE VOLUNTEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 2632, Issue 2632, 25 May 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE VOLUNTEERS.

THE NEW DRESS REGULATIONS,

The new dress regulations of the New Zealand Volunteer Force, which, it has been announced, are to be strictly observed, have just been issued from the Government Printing Office. They do not present any very startling alterations from the old regulations, but the uniforms of the service are more precisely described, and some changes, which are mostly for the better, have been made.

Officers of Naval Artillery Volunteers are to wear gold lace instead of silver. It may be noted that the Commanders of Naval Corps are styled Lieutenant-Com-manders instead of Captains. Cavalry are to wear dark blue, with scarlct collars, white helmets, black belts for the officers and brown for the men.

In the Artillery, the white helmets worn by the Permanent Artillery is to take the place of the busby.

The uniform prescribed for Rifle Corps is the same as at present, viz., scarlct tunic, black trousers, and the blue helmet of Imperial pattern. Officers not wishing to go to the expense of getting full dress tunics will be allowed to wear scprlet serge patrol jackets on parade in review order. The undress uniform coat of the rank and file is to be a blue cloth or serge patrol jacket, fitting more to the body than the scarlet frock now worn, but not so tight as the tunic. The change is undoubtedly an improvement, as blue is a better " fighting colour " than scarlet, and it may be presumed that any fighting the volunteers may have to do will be done in undress. As, however, many of the corps are not in possession of blue serge patrol jackets, it is to be supposed that the Government will either issue such jackets to them, or fix next year's capitation grant as a figure which will enable the corps to procure them.

One of the best features of the new regulations is the provision for " efficiency barlges." Ali Volunteers who have been returned efficient for three consecutive years will wear a silken star on the right sleeve, just above the Austrian knot ot the cuff. Volunteers who have been returned efficient for an additional consecutive three years will wear a second star. Volunteers who have been returned as efficient nine times, which need not be consecutive or in the same corps, lor the last six times returned will wear a silver star on the right arm above the elbow. Any Volunteer who is in possession of the efficiency badge or badges, and who is returned as non-efficient for two consecutive years will forfeit his badge or badges.