"PAY, PAY, PAY."

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 2

"PAY, PAY, PAY."

On Monday morning last about a hundred men returned from the war, who are now convalescent, started from London on a pleasure tour to Cambridge. They are, with^ the exception of a few Yeomanry, Colonials, and they represent Canada, Australia South Africa, India, a.nd Ceylon. The party are conducted by the KQV. J T. Evans, Chaplain at ■ Shorncliffe, 'and went first to Cambridge. While there they were the guests of the civic authorities, and the University, and were ..handsomely entertained. From Cambridge, they go to Oxford, and there also the civic authorities and the University authorities are arranging to make their visit a memorable °one. The programme next provides for a trip to Windsor. Although the Queen's pleasure has not yet been made known, it is expected that Her Majesty will receive the convalescent soldiers. In any case they will be permitted to visit the Castle. No date has been fixed for the visit to Canterbury, as the men may be more than oneVtky at Windsor- It has, however, been arranged that a memorial service for their fallen comrades will be held at Canterbury Cathedral, at which the men will attend. In connection with this little jaunt I am rather surprised to hear that the. Rev. Evans —who is a "real good sort" —has written to the various AgentsGeneral asking them to dub up ten pounds apiece to help to cover the expenses. Whether the reverend gentleman expected them to contribute out of their privy purses or from their respective colonial exchec]uers I do- not know, but in any case I am sorry to hear that he has applied to them for money for such an object. TJjhe entertainment of our colonial volunteers "broke from the war" is a matter for the Home folk, entirely and we are quite willing to find the wherewithal for them ,to indulge in such mild recreations as that represented by the tour referred to. The War Office must b.e well aware of this fact and the Treasury also, but if Eed Tape stands in the way of a 7noderate grant from official quarters Mr Evans need only appeal for funds through the public press to get all he needs for these little pleasure tours. As. an Englishman I do not like to think that the colonies are being called upon to find money for such purposes as the entertainment of convalescent colonials at Home. That is the. business of the British public, which, though somewhat absent-minded regarding such matters is always ready and willing- to. "pay, pay, pay," if called u.pon> by responsible people.

The Agent-General for New Zealand, I understand, was quite ready to pay the travelling expenses of any member of a,New Zealand contingent with the party, without referring the matter to ISTew Zealand, but he could not of course contribute to any general fund,without authority, save out of his own- pocket, and lie,' like his confreres in Victoria-street and Crosby Square, has 'had a pretty Heavy drain on his private purse during1 the present year, of grace. ,T*he colonies themselves have done handsomely by the Mother Country during th© war;, that is a fact which every EngHshmein worth the name recognises with gratitude, and it g-oesi against the grain

when we learn that an.Army chaplain of high repute is forced to. apply" to colonial sources for funds wherewith to give colonial soldiers a little pleasure trip in the Old Country. That he. has done so is nothing against Him personally, for he must get the money somehow, or abandon these trips, but it shows how very little in touch with the people of tihjs country the War Office and Treasury folk are.