UNKNOWN A LAMENT FROM THE BRAVE.

North Otago Times, Volume XIV, Issue 542, 26 July 1870, Page 8 (Supplement)

UNKNOWN A LAMENT FROM THE BRAVE.

A private soldier writes, pointing out a grievance wbich occasions n. good deal of irritation in the ranks. " According te regulations, no soldier is allowed, without the permission of his commanding officer, to have any article of J private wearing apparel in hia possession. This is adopted, of course, to deprive men of facilities for desertion. The selling of recruits 9 clothes has^thua become a considerable} trade in the brigade of Guards, attended with enormoua profits. A gentleman of Jewish extraction has a monopoly, and he is sent for when a fresh, sqnad arrives from the country, and with the assistance of a Bergeant bargains with them for their 'togs.' Many have good Buits, some indifferent, but all are served alike — they must bargain at dictation. They have no alternative but Jew or dust-hoie ; to send their thioga home to Land's End or John o 1 Groat's or whatever remote district they may havo come from, would coBt, perhaps, in carriage the value of the clothes. If a suit be worth the Jew offers 10s. ; he could not think of giving more ; and the youngster is bullied into a bargain, and eaorifioeo Mb property through fear. The Jew purchases many articles that would fetoh treble the amount he gives for them at a pawnbroker's ; but that is not allowed, in case they might be again redeemed. The recruits of the seven battalions of the Gfuarda are treated iu this manner. Why should they not be allowed to take their olothes to the best market and get as good a prioe as they con P A single ' olo'man' should not enjoy a monopoly. Not only reoroita suffer from this monopolising Bjntem, bnt all the rank and file as well. Every article of clothing, tunics, jackets, trousers, boots, &c, it swallowed up in the Bame way. A pair of boots, scarcely broken, he offers a shilling or sixpence for; a fatigue white flannel jaoket, ninepenoe — not th© worse for wear; a tunic, la. to Is. 6d. j trousers, threepence and fourpenoe, Ho disposes of them again for six titn.es the price he gave for them. He beara a wagon. • load every air months from, every battalion ia the brigade, and finds it profitable to go to Dublin to puxohaae from the battalion quartered there."