CIVILIAN AGENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2506, 6 July 1915, Page 6

CIVILIAN AGENT

(To tho Editor.)

Sir, —I understand. t-liat a, furtfref suggestion to' appoint a civilian. l 'agent to.work in tho interests of our troops, at their base has been made' to, and not adopted by, the authorities, on the' ground that it would , clash with the work- done by tho• military authorities in that direction.' Circumstances 1 may,' alter cases, but having had sonie experience of this work in the South African:, campaign . I have yet to be'convinced! that the scheme would be-unworkable. :• Has any evidence been adduced to 6how, that tho work done in the years; 1899,: 1900, 1901, and 1902 was a failure?. ■ There are certainly many men both'here and at the front who took part in the i South .African War who ,will testify' as to the assistance and benefit they ro-• ceived from the office in ' Cape Town. • I gather from' the papers that ouit.j wounded have been short of comforts, that they have few or no papers (vida your article in Saturday's issue)', that parents and relatives cannot get reliable information qs to the location arid 'condition -of th'eir wounded. The position: in a nutshell is,'that what is everybody's., business is 'nobody's business. .The mili-: tary authorities have their. own duties: to attend to, and these duties (do.not-' cover the numberless little: extras that go to make life more comfortable and. worth living for our sick and wounded* . There is not the slightest reason why) tho appointment of a ; civilian agent should clasli with tho military, authorities, provided tho appointee is a man! with a .reasonable amount of tact. In-;: stead of . J>eing a hindrauce; the holder or the, position .should be a source of, great assistance,' not only .to tho men and their relatives, here, but to. ther Government, and the..Defence aut-hori-:. tics. . - i As. an instance, and taking _ the lack of newspapers as a case in, point, what particular official at the front would', aeem it his particular duty to-ferret put) the, reason tliat mail matter was rob reaching its destination, and see that a remedy was found? I could quote a great and- varied number of advantages that would bo availablo to thV •men by such •an appointment being mado. The only personal interest I have Trent-ham Camp who have died has who lias been wounded, but now happily, recovered, and a'so as a modest subscriber towards the Sick and; Wounded Fund. ■ There .may be matters,in-the> arrangements with' the Imperial -Gov*-, eminent in this war that aro very;ma- : terially ditferent from; the South African' War, but I 'would respectfully urge tho Government to give this matter a fullerconsideration. I - write hesitatingly, ; ,and' without any desire ;to embarrass, the authorities, but having a very' full knowledge of tho advantages 'to - be.' gained am' impelled to do so : entirely;; in the interests of (1) tho forces at the front, (2) the relatives and friends left behind, and (3) tho thousands of subscribers to funds for the sick arid wounded. I can only, add that any' details - that may be'required by the Hon. Minister,of Defence or his appointee, wffl be( : willingly supplied'if so desired. ' Thanking you in anticipation'for ai little of your' very valuable space,—, I am, etc., ' ! . : W. T. PENNY. .Sometime -Assistant-Agent N.Z. Govern* nient, Capo Town. / Palmerston North, July 6, 1915.