UNPAID TROOPERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11587, 19 May 1903, Page 6

UNPAID TROOPERS.

TO THK EDITOB OV TH- TKESS. Sir,—You published in your paper this aseek a. statement made by Surgeon-Major Bakewell, in the London "Times," that tlie iWar Office has not yet settled the claims of certain colonials who served in the South African War. I enclose a cutting from .he "Oamaru Mail," of the 14th inst., giving an account of a young man from that place who lias not yet received his pay for service in South Africa. The statement is quite correct, the young man referred to being my nephew, and although it is twelve ino-ths sinoe ha returned, all that he has received is £12, and the £52 that ia still owing to (him ifl reduoed to £13. II a private individual or company were to do the etune *hey oould be imprisoned. I should like to ask you, sir, what has hecome of the money? That, surely, has been paid by the Imperial authorities to our Government. Is it held back in order (to help keep our Governmenit from bankruptcy, or does it go to Home Parliamentary excursion fund? I do trust that you will take this matter in hand, and that you will do your bes. to help these young men (for I am led to believe that (this is not a solitary case, by any means) to obtain what they are justly entitled to, and which is the least that can be done, considering the great risk they ran in serving their country through pestilence and war. Then, again, sir, supposing we should at any time require mon for service; do you think that any will offer after the treatment they lvave received by the Government of the day? "Not much." If tliese returned troopers have-not received their discharge, can tliey not claim jxiv till such time that they are discharged? —Yours, etc., ENQUIRER. Tai Tapn, May 16tb, 1903. [Extbact] Tho statement made by Surgeon-Major Bakewell in the London "Times" that the War Office lias not yet sottled the claims of certain colonials who served in the South African War may seem strange; but we know that there is some truth in it. It was re-presented to us some days ago tliat a young man who went from this town to servo his Queen and country, and who suffered more than his share of tlie dangers and privations of the campaign, had not received his pay. Moreover, it was said tliat wlien he left South Africa, the sum to which he was entitled was set down by the authorities at £52; but that the amount hm been reduced till it now stands at about £13. He was notified the other day that _w would receive this sum on applying to the local postmaster, but that officer informed him that he could not pay him till he produced his discharge, which has not yet been forwarded him 'by the Department. He is in a dilemma what to d--> under the circumstances, as Settling such nvatters by memorandum is so utterly tardy and unsatisfactory. The local nuthoriities may not be directly responsible for such a grave and cruel omL-asion to fulfil n.i honourable contract with one of those who so faithfully served the Empire, but there should have been an emphatic and indignant protest from our Government to the Home authorities, which seem to have ae-tiwr heart nor sense.