The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-29 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE.

REPORT OF TIER MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONERS.
Yesterday morning the report of the commissioners
appointed to inquire into the condition of the volunteer
force in Great Britain was issued. The commissioners are
of opinion that furtherlassistance should be rendered by the
government, and, as the most expedient way of regulating
the aid so as to secure the real efficiency of the force,
they recommended amongst other things the following
:
"That there should be a grant from the government of 20s.
per man for every light horse, engineer, mounted rifle, and
rifle volunteer, who can produce a certificate, according to
zt form to be prescribed by the Secretary of State, signed by
the commanding officer and adjutant of his corps, or by the
commanding officer and adjutant of the administrative
battalion to which his corps belongs, that he has
attended nine drills, six of which in the case of a consoli-
dated battalion, and three of which in the case of an admi-
nistrative battalion, should be battalion or troop drills, in
the course of the preceding 12 months ; that he is efficient
in drill, has been fully instructed in the manual and platoon
exercise, and, in addition to the above drills, has gone
through a course of musketry instruction to be laid down
by the Secretary of State ; and also that he was present on
parade (unless absent by leave of his commanding officer
with the approval of the Secretary of State) on the day of
inspection; and an additional grant of ten shillings per
man for every volunteer who can produce a similar certifi-
cate that he has fired a certain amount of ball cartridge,
according to regni.tinne to be laid down by the Secretary
of State. That in the case of a recruit 30 drills,
including a short course of musketry instruction, should be
substituted for the drills already enumerated, in order to
qualify for receiving such certificate. That a power should
be reserved to the inspecting officer to disallow the certifi-
cate of any man or body of men whose inefficiency may be
manifest on parade. That the existing definition of an
effective should be repealed. That divisional or brigade
field days and official inspections should not be reckoned in
the number of drills above specified. That in the case of
artillery volunteers a further grant, beyond that already
made by the Government, of 30s. per man should be made
for every man who can produce a certificate signed by the
commanding officer and adjutant of his corps, or by the
commanding officer and adjutant of the administrative bri-
gade to which his corps belongs, that he has attended 12 gun
drills in the course of the preceding 12 months ; has been
present at the gun practice of his battery, and is an efficient
gunner ; that he was present on parade (unless absent by
leave of his commanding officer with the approval of the
Secretary of State) on the day of inspection. During the
first year of service :attendance at 30 drills, of which 24
should be gun drills, should be substituted for the condi-
tions above enumerated. That in addition to all other
allowances a sum not :exceeding 4s. per head per annum
for each member who has been certified as efficient, in any
corps where the head-quarters are distant beyond th.e,
miles from the place of meeting of the administrative,
battalion to which it belongs, should be granted
to the commanding officer of the battalion in aid
of the expenses of conveying the members of such
corps to battalion drills. That the adjutant should
be responsible to the War-office, in the event of his
being employed to act as paymaster, for all sums received
on account of such corps, and for their having been expended
strictly according to regulation, and that he should be put
on the same footing as an adjutant of disembodied militia."