THE DEFENCE COUNCIL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2205, 1 June 1908, Page 1

THE DEFENCE COUNCIL

WHY VOLUNTEERING OFFERS ARE DECLINED.

INTERVIEW WITH COL. ROBIN

(Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, May 30. Colonel Robin, Chief Officer of the General Staff, interviewed regarding the refusal of the services of the pro. posed mounted infantry corps m Dunedin, stated that there was no provision for the establishment of *a mounted infantry corps. Tho Dunedin men, lie says, admitted that they would have somo difficulty in getting horses. Their idea was to tram as infantry, and, when the time came, to take the field as mounted men. Colonel Robin points out that there are a number of infantry corps in Dunedin, and also mounted riitenien, and if these men were actuated by the true spirit of volunteering they wou.d, lie thinks, join either tho one or the other. The policy of the Department is against the creation of a multiplicity of small units as.being an obstacle to efficiency. There has or late been a good deal of talk about tho refusal of tho authorities to'’accept the services of projected volunteer corps, hut Colonel Robin says that in every case there has been good ground for tho refusal. “Some time ago,” said the Colonel, “there was a proposal in Auckland to form a naval reserve. ' The scheme as suggested to us did not seem to bo such as would in practice produce that efficiency which would make its adoption worth while. The necessary experience requisite for an efficient naval reserve cannot be gained by cruising about in yaclits t and launches, and occasionally handling tho guns at the forts, but to place the mutter beyond all doubt, we referred the proposition to the British Admiralty. They .replied that the idea was a good one provided that tho men put in annually six weeks training on a warship at sea. Failing this, the training scheme would be no good.” , Pointing to a military map, Colonel Robin showed where a number of voluntoer corps were situated so far inland as to bo practically useless. These corps are expensive, for the transport of equipment also is heavy. There is another point —viz., the payment of an instruction staff to visit all corps, and if these remote companies are allowed.to increase, travelling expenses would be very heavy. “We had,” added the Chief of the Staff,” an application the other day from some place awaytoyiek in the wilds. Wo; replied they* would be of more service to the country if they formed themselves into a rifle club. Its all a question of money and efficiency. We.have a number of excellent officers and a large proportion of them are well-trained, but there is a terriblo tail, a terribly long tail.”