RETURNED KHAKI MEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10520, 16 December 1901, Page 3

RETURNED KHAKI MEN.

Strictures on WarOfflee. (PEJt PRESS ASSOCIATION.) r "Wellington,. December 14. A number of men who had be-n. on active set vice in Soutb Af < ica and had lately returned were entertained afc luncheon to-day by the members of the Ministry. The' Premier, who was present, referred briefly to. the despatch of the Eighth Contingent, saying that his greatest trouble would no doubt be in dealing with 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 bleeping at bis post, Mr Seddon said that as assertions had been made concerning the treatment of this offender

on the passage from the Cape to England, Government" had asked for the fullest information thafc referred to the case,, and though he -*had called attention to the alleged severity exercised towards the man on the voyage, asking for a reconsideration of the case by the War Office,'he regretted to say thaji the War Office seemed to consider it out of place'" to do anything in th" matter. He thought it would be just as well for the War Office to clearly understmd that they must not snub tbje colonies. He hoped, however, that things would be altarpduand Lord Roberts brought into closer touch with the people. He thought that if the Colonial troops had been given a freehand there would, now have been a different tale to tell about the war;