SHABBY TREATMENT OF VOLUNTEERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1897, Page 2

SHABBY TREATMENT OF VOLUNTEERS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib — A propos of the Governor's visit to New Plymouth, a line or two as to the treatment accorded to our, volunteers may not be out of place. It was desired to have the services of the Hawera Mounted Rifles as an escort during His Excellency's brief stay in our town, and the Mayor applied to the Defence Minister for free passes over the railway for the men and their horses. This concession having been denied, the volunteers decided to come at their own cost, and, with the co-operation of public-spirited people here, who provided a number of mounts, this fine troop made a good turn-out, and added materially to the success of to-day's proceedings. This evening it is currently reported, and apparently on absolutely reliable authority, that when the Governor was about to take his departure he expressed to those accompanying him his desire to thank the escort. The Mayor thereupon proposed to call up Captain Davies, the commanding officer, to receive His Excellency's acknowledgements, when the Hon. Mr. Thompson, Defence Minister, interposed with an objection, to which the Governor yielded with evident reluctance. Is this the way in which the Defence Minister lays himself out to encourage our settler soldiers and foster the economical defence of the colony ? Or is his action with regard to the Hawera Mounted Rifles due to the fact that their captain and many of his Inglewood troopers gave hearty support to Mr. Brown at the general election ? I am, &c, An Ex-Voltjnteeb Offices. New Plymouth, 9th December 1897.