EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 296, 21 December 1901, Page 2

EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

[iiY 12LEuKAj‘H— I’KESii ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, last night, rue Wellington Trades Council carried last night by 12 to 10 votes a resolution * condemning and repudiating the action of the Government in undo - " iking to send further troops to South ‘ ica to assist m waging a hideous a- mholv war of

extermination, v/uich ’.eiievo was begun and is being C; i <.n entirely in the interests of the • ~ali :s.” It was freely stated that in „ p csent position of idle colony s nn . es, which had led io the discnargeof a large uumberof workers, the Government • were not justitied in sending a further contingent. It was decided to ask other Trades Councils to take similar action. Mr Xaughton, President of the Trades Council has resigned as a protest against tiie anti-war resolution, which he says in no way represents the opinions of the great mass of unionists or the labor party generally.

Napier, last night. Seventy-live applications have been received for the Hawke's Bay detachment of the Eighth Contingent. The number includes six returned troopers. Applications are being received by every mail.

Christchurch, last night. Tenders have been let for supplies for the South Island division of the Eighth ■Contingent. The Kaiapoi Woollen Company are the successful tenderers for the major portion of the supplies. Auckland, last night. The rush for enlistment in the Eighth Contingent continues. Up to this afternoon, 400 applications for enrolment were lodged at the Auckland Brigade Othce, besides b*B applications from officers for commissions.

Dunedin, last night. Applications for enrolment in the Bth Contingent so far reach 721, or three times the required number. Of these 67 were members of former contingents, 187 are volunteers, and 407 civilians. Commissions have been applied for by two returned officers and bv 24 from the ranks. The medical examinations begin to-morro.v. PREMIER INTERVIEWED.

(JBy Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. Asked by a reporter to-night as to how the equipment of the Eight Contingent was getting on, the Premior said that nothing much had been done as yet. It was rather a surprise to find in the newspapers advertisements that the boot contract had been secured by a Wellington firm, considering that no Ministerial authority had been given for that or for any other contract as yet. The contracts are to be dealt with by Cabinet to-morrow, and the desiro of the Government is to spread the orders over the colony as much as possible, so that despatch may be facilitated and the benefit of the work spread over as big a surface as possible. It has boen stated that there will be restrictions as to color in horses to be chosen for the uso of the Eighth Contingent. As a matter of fact there is to be no restriction whatever. The sister steamers Cornwall and Surrey have been selected for the conveyance of die Eighth Contingent to South Africa. The vessels are being chartered Afrom Messrs Burt and Co. OneMj leave Wellington and the other LytSMpn./ The steamer which leaves WeUlpgton, probably about the 20th January, will call at Auckland to pick up horses aud the Northern section of the contingent.