TREATING TROOPERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12402, 16 January 1901, Page 6

TREATING TROOPERS.

THU discussion raised, at the meting of, the Auckland Send-off Oemmitfcee concerning the “ treating ” of- the Sixth Contingent is of interest to the whole colony, and tfie stand taken by a section of the committee will be applauded! by many who are neither jmohibitjoniiste noy winc-bih-bers. There is no reason why the contain gent should not be entertained #/b a farewell dinner in which alcoholio liquor play# no part, and it'would be really a graceful: compliment to Lord! Roberts to make this public acJmowtedgunent of his recent request. We do not suppose for one minute that the addition of wines to the menu of the dinner would result in ’an exhibition’ of drunkenness. The deplorable scenes sometimes witnessed on- such occasions are, invariably due to the misguided; generosity*; of private individuals, and the Send-off Committee would he doing the troopers a real service by setting a good example to the public in the matter. Even the small demonstration made last night at the departure of the Canterbury troopers was not free from unpleasantness, lor one or two of the men appeared to have passed the limits of discretion in the number of their farewell cups. There is another mat-’ ter of a similar nature which calls for some comment. Very unpleasant statements are being circulated concerning the conduct of the central camp at Wellington. If one- : half of these rumours have any foundation in truth the administration moist be lax in the extreme, and' the sooner strict discipline is. introduced and maintained the better it will be for the contingent and lor tbe credit of the colony. The reputation of the wmole camp should not be allowed to 'suffer because of the misconduct of a few rowdy troopers. Drunkenness should be regarded by the officers as a much' more serious offence than appears to be the case, for the men. will find the reading of the. rules a great deal stricter in tho Imperial service than they seem to imagine, and it is just as well that they should realise the position before they leave the colony. We would not have it thought drunkenness is the rule in the Wellington camp, and it is entirely on account of the wellconducted, sober majority that we reffer to these rumours concerning a small section of the men. Before we dismiss the subject it may be as well to mention the approaching return of another body of troopers from South Africa, and to remind the public of Lord Roberts’s earnest appeal.