Will tlic Defence Minister kiiwlly fur nish ft number of persons interested in Itille Chilis—capable rilleincn and fair lmtrksincn all—with satisfactory reasons for restricting membership of such clubs to" efficient volunteers ?" To the ord:n ary citizen it seems its if the Defence Department were so completely bound up with red-tape, and mildewy prece dent, and servile imitation of an in-' different model, that it cannot rise to the occasion. This Colony may at any time be called upon to defend itself from attack. The first line of defence—the squadron, might very easily be pene trated or evaded, and the people called upon to keep an enemy back from these shores, A very good proportion of our able-bodied men arc familiar with mili tary drill; but a considerable number of persons living in remote districts—hardy, courageous and (in every sense but the technical military sense) efficient, have hail no volunteer trair'.ng, Jlcing ex cellent marksmen, they arc anxious to qualify for contingencies, as well as to perfect themselves in rille-shooting. They are all men of intelligence, who, if they could not perform the" goose-step" in a masterly fashion can make a "bull's eye "or a " centre" five times out of six, Arc their services to be declined because they have not enjoyed military training; and if so, why? General Ci'onjc, Do Wet, Botha, were not so fastidious, Any man with a rillo and a bandolier who could shoot straight, rido well, and endure, was welcomed into their ranks; and wc are only too painfully aware of the protracted and destructive resistance that they have made to the very flower of our armies, and to overwhelming forces. Let us liavc our volunteers and trained sohPers, by all means; but for goodness sake, let every man who is a proved marksman become identified with the Defence force!

LOCAL AND GENERAL.
