COLONEL FOX AND THE GOVERNMENT

Marlborough Express, Volume XXX, Issue 80, 6 April 1894, Page 2

COLONEL FOX AND THE GOVERNMENT

[UNIXBD PRESS AhSOOIATION.] Wellington, April 5. The communication forwarded by Col. Fox to the Premier at Auckland reached Ministers to~day, having been forwardsd by the Premier. It consist* of two letters. In one Colonel Fox expresses his desire to ba released from his contraot with the Government conditionally upon hia being granted a sum of £1000, ao reasonable componsation for tho losa ha ha 3 sustained m coming out horoandtho termination cf hia engagement. A further condition is, passages baok to England for himself and his military servant. In tho event of there terms being accepted, a formal resignation is Attached, and reasons why the conclusion of tho enr. gagement is deeirabla are given. The reasons are very numerous, but tha ohief are that the Premier, as Minister for De* fence, controls tha whole of the Defences find Defence Force, m consequence of which the Force has deteriorated ; that he has retained the services of useless officers and noncommissioned officers, and of corps recommended to be disbanded ; thii presumably for political reaaona, as the Premier knew money was urgently needed tor tho ohief ports ; that tho Premier had refused to allow him (Colonel Fox) to take up the duties of Commandant, and ho is therefore Commandant only m nams ; that ho (Colonpl Fax) required a staff officer, and recommended tho appointment of on?, and his reoommendation was ignored ; that the Premier cent an officer of his Da pattment to make extracts from his (Colonel Fox'a) letter- book behind hid back; that tha Premier laid the Volunlcor report on the table of tho House of Representatives m such a manner as to prejudice him and it; that the Premier Bent that report to various para in* asking their opinions upon it, but only published that cf Sir Williim Jervoi?, which differed m somo respect? from the report, and did not publish that of the Colonial Defence Committee, which was m favor of it ; that ho (Colonel Fox) waa detained m Wellington for a month doing nothing, on the ground that he waa to ba consulted re an ammunition contraot, whiob, however, had not yet been put before him ; that the Premier asked his opinion as to the Martini Henry rifle contraot, and then sent his memo, of advice to the contractors; that on receipt of Sir William Jervoia' letter the Premier suspended the arrangements which he (Colonel Fox) had made for sending six big guns to England to be chase-hooptd ; that the Defence plans were transferred to the Publio Works Department against bia recommendation ; thit witheut reference to him the Premier consulted a subordinate officer as to what etoreg which he (Colonel Fox) had said were required should be diapensed with. Colonel Fox further states, that as it was apparent that his advice was cither unsought or disregarded, he was Commandans only m name, and therefore the Government must approve of his action m resigning.