Proposed Volunteer Corps.

As reported in the last Spike a committee was set up during the first term to enquire into the conditions under which a Rifle Club could be formed at the College. About fifty students attended the meeting called to hear the result of negotiations with the Defence Department, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop, Officer Commanding the Wellington District, personally attended to explain the position. It was at once apparent from the correspondence that (although the meeting was called to form a Rifle Club) existing regulations absolutely prohibit the formation of a Rifle Club as a State-assisted concern, and as private club is too expensive for consideration. However, the promoters were determined to have something, and a Volunteer corps appeared to be the next best thing. The meeting, with but hasty consideration of the obligations it was creating for itself, forthwith decided to form a company, but a show of hands revealed only eighteen intending members. Replying to a vote of thanks, Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop stated that such poor support did not justify further proceedings, but when once a man has become imbued with a sense of "duty" and red-coated enthusiasm he is not prepared to see his hopes perish so miserably, and the matter has been gone on with.

With no intention whatever of damping the spirit of the proposal, we consider that the position has not been fairly placed before students by those moving in the matter. The outstanding difficulty is one of time. The great majority of students are engaged earning a livelihood during the day, and in attending lectures and studying during the evening. It cannot be denied that the College life is already too strenuous for such students, and it certainly appears an impossibility for them to do justice to everything. From these students the Volunteer Corps must be formed and recruited. It has already page 78 been contended that there are too many College clubs; but one thing is certain, it has ever been the experience of football, athletic, cricket, and hockey clubs alike, that it is an impossibility to get students out to practice and training. How, then, additional time is to be found to serve as a Volunteer does not seem clear.

It was made to appear at the meeting that the Volunteer regulations would be considerably relaxed in the company's favour, and that some eighteen parades, of two hours' duration, and class firing, would alone enable the company to earn annual capitation. On this assumption, and in spite of Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop's significant statement that the Defence Department had no intention of making Volunteering easy, many handed in their names. Every man must attend at least eighteen parades, three of which are to be daylight parades. Most students with previous Volunteering experience refrained from offering their services. To exist the Company will have efficient it must attend many more than eighteen parades per annum. The minimum number of parades usually reckoned as necessary is twenty-five, and it must be remembered that a Victoria College Corps, which could not parade during session, would, after allowing for Christmas holidays, have less than fifteen weeks for twenty-five parades. Ceremonial parades, from which the company is promised exemption, are important factors in raising the standard of a corp's efficiency. Such is the universal experience of companies belonging to the City Battalion.

The officers and men of such a company must, therefore, be prepared to serve under practically the same conditions as other Volunteers. Such a company must be prepared to face financial difficulties. one of the most prominent corps in Wellington, after being in existence for ten years, has still a debit balance. Each Volunteer by capitation earns £2 10s. per annum, or £7 10s. in three years. Out of this amount his company has to provide a full dress uniform, an undress uniform and an overcoat. In three years time these require renewing. Markers for class firing have also to be paid out of capitation.

It will thus be seen that a corps to be a credit to the College will have heavy obligations to discharge. If fifty students in real earnest about the proposal are prepared to serve at least two years and see the corps on a sound footing, there is not reason (provided it is suitably officered) why it should not be successful. But if their keenness is only tem page 79 porary—that is to say, the keenness born of novelty—they should, for the sake of the College alone, refrain from offering their services. We have clubs already languishing for want of support, and our duty is plain: we have the Athletic Shield to retain, and the Football, Hockey, Tennis, And Cricket Championships yet to win.