COLONIAL TROOPERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 291, 16 December 1901, Page 2

COLONIAL TROOPERS.

MR SEDDON TALKS STRAIGHT TO j THE WAR OFFICE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. A number of men who had been on active service in South Africa, and lately returned, were entertained at luncheon to day by members of the Ministry. The Premier, who was present, referred briefly to the despatch of an Eighth Contingent, saying that his great- | est trouble would no doubt be in dealing j with the two or three thousand applicants for enrolment who would present themselves. Speaking with regard to the case of Private Tasker, of Wellington, who was sentenced to imprisonment in an English gaol for sleeping at his post, Mr Seddon said that as assertions had been made concerning the treatment of this offender on the passage from tho Cape to England, Government had asked for the fullest information in reference to the case. Though he had called attention to the alleged severity exercised towards the man on tho voyage, and asking reconsideration of the case by the War Office, he regretted to say that the War Office seemed to consider it out of place to do anything in the matter.; He thought it would be just as well for the War Office to clearly understand that it must not snub the colonies. He hoped that things would be altered, and that Lord Roberts would be brought in closer touch with the people. He thought that if colonial troops had been given a freer hand there would now have been a different tale to tell about the war*