THE RUA EPISODE.

Evening Star, Issue 16086, 11 April 1916, Page 7

THE RUA EPISODE.

i TO THE El UXOR. 1 Sir.—ln Saturday’s issue of your paper | a local appeared stating tliafc it may not Ibe generally known that tire Farmers' i Union provided a force specially suited 1 for any emergency which may bo beyond ! tne strength of the regular Police Force. I and in this instance olfered their services I to the Minister of Justice, who intimated i that he would avail himself of their ser-' j vices if the regular Force was insufficient, i Your readers were told, in addition to the above, that- the force consists of experienced bashmeu and trained rifle shots, -the above reading makes one wonder whether the Government are in earnest w’th thc-ir recruiting movement. Here we have a body of men looking for fight, even it it is agtinst a few poor, superstitious and deluded Maoris, with which the police were quite capable of dealing. Wuat was the Minister of Justice thinking about that he forgot to ring up his colloagu--the Minister of Defence, tolling him of these trained warriors? There i.-Tthe over lasting cry of a shortage of recruits, and hero we have in onr midst a battalion or two of experienced and trained rirkuneiu j who ought to bo obliged to do thca- duty, i They should bo told there is plenty in | scope on the different fronts of Europe. ; where they will, unfortunately, meet i I foe worthy of their rtee!, I will conclude, Mr Editor, by askine if you can tell me which law gives in: right to a registered union (fanners’ . any other) to arm themselves with rid, and for what purpe-ve is this purlieu! • union armed?—l am, etc., i Ed. Kellett, I Organiser Carpenters' Union. 1 April 11.