AFTER TAKAPAU.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 111, 13 May 1914, Page 6

AFTER TAKAPAU.

THE SUNDAY EVENING

TROUBLE

VIEWS OF SIR lAN HAMILTON

"Just at the present time," remarked General Sir * lan Hamilton, when responding to a civic welcome at. Cambridge, "the public here in New Zealand is interested in what i might describe as a sensational incident connected with the Takapau camp. The little trouble in thai, camp, !bas, I admit a distinctly serious' aspect. Yoil know the old song about 'Merrily Danced tfhe Quaker's Wife. Well, since the account of that incident has been cabled Homfe our good Quaker friends .have merrily danced. We don't grudge it, though, because the Quakers have conscientious objections to military training. They may dance 'Gaby Glide' or the 'Turkey Trot' about it if they like, be- . cause it does not particularly matter, but theire is a more sinister significance behind the incident-. There are people who are not our friends who irejoioe when they hear anything which they think is a sign of military Weakness. "Having touched upon the moral i side of the question I would tell you ] —and I would not do so if I did not j thoroughly believe and feel it—that* !.th« matter is really trivial. A lot of I young boys, half-larking and hali'-un- ; comfortable, made a bit of a, ruction. ; Your military system has been going \ such a short time that some links in ] tJlie ordinary disciplinary chain are not ; so strong as they will be in a couple 1 of years' time when such things will • not appear at all. ; "I am really glad to have the opj portunity of expressing my opinion I publicly. One must always, remember ■ that when stich, an incident occurs in i Ntsw Zealand tlbe news of it flies far j and wide over tJva world. 1b is not i worth while to, allow such an incident to be flying over the world. Those boys at Takapau a.re as nioe a lot of boys as one would like to see. They 1 are good-tempered, and they did a hard day's work next day, just after the trouble. TWv are really good follows," he concluded amidst loud applau.se.

of pleasant during themiajor portion of'tho. period, the troops, with a few exceptions, have put up with the conditions with the best of good humor, being determined to make the best of things. They demonstrated that in no sense were they feather-bed soldiers, as some people, in consequence of the complaints lodged on Sunday week last, appeair to have been led to j believe. Under the circumstances it ' was not unnatural to; expect that some of the latter would indulge their wits at the expense of the men in camp as a whole, and they have not omitted ito do so. " On Friday morning hundreds of printed dodgers were distributed throughout the encampment as follows: "Ichabod ! Dear Down-trod-den Warriors,— What if Wellington, Nelson, and the Crimean warriors (and all the other lights who have made history) have suffered through rain, snow, and hardship to establish our mighty Empire of Freedom. All this, dear brothers, is but'a flea-bite to tihe miserable martyrdom you have been called upon to endure for the last few days, and ou/r loving hearts go out in sympathy, overflowing with tears, and should further hardships be experienced by our noble brothers we are prepared to further tokens of our love in the following manner: 6000 pairs strong woollen ; stockings knitrted by our own dear hands, 6000 feeding; bottles from the children, 6000 chest protectors from the old ls»d'°B, 6000 bottles cough tincture, 6000 bottles Mother SeigeFs Syrup,' 6000 hot water botitlcs, 6000 .nice soft eiderdown quilts, and an* assortment, of easy chairs, lounges, and soft cushions. Also, dear afflicted warriors,, if there is any other little thing which tihe brutal . authorities have not supplied just give us the tip. Your- tearfully aiflid -d sisters, the White Feather Cum-Suffragette Cold Water Society. P.S.—As a last ' thought. we "have a few hundred old flannel': petticoats .which would keep out the cold ineelyi." ■The-circular was 1 aflrk'Sssed : "To Glorious Bard ot ; White Feather, Slush Camp, ' Taka- | pau." The, dodgers were received by Jihe majority of the men good humorppdly, though in some cases the unjust aspersions cast upon the men were re- ! sented. -i- '