THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11434, 26 July 1900, Page 6

THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

ENROLMENT OF NEW ZEALANDERS. INQUIRIES BY THE PREMIER. STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. [D? telegraph.—special correspondent.] Wellington", Wednesday. This afternoon the Premier stated that the question of members of our contingents joining the South African police force had caused considerable comment. He had communicated with other colonial Governments on the subject, and he had received a message from the Premier of Tasmania, who stated that the Tasmaniau Government had no objection to granting discharges in South Africa provided that no liability to the colony arose therefrom. Mr. Seddon's reply to a question as to his views was distinctly " No." The men were sent there for the war, and until the war was over the Government could not agree to the discharges. That was, he believed, the mind of the peoplo of New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) The men were sent to South Africa as soldiers, not as policemen. He had made inquiries, and had been told by those who had returned that there had been some discontent. The New Zealanders had been separated, and had lost their individuality as a. New Zealand contingent. When the proposition was first made it was not generally accepted. When volunteers for the police were first called for only a few of our men offered, but subsequent events occulted with which the men were dissatisfied, and that led to the applications being made to join the police. Of course, it was not the ordinary police, but the same as our Armed Constabulary, and they were paid more than they got as members of the contingents. Still they had to koep their horses, so that there was not really much gain financially. There was one satisfactory feature about the matter, and that was that the men were only taken on for three months. They would then luivo the option of rejoining their contingents. He (Mr. Scddon) had sent a strong memo, to the High Commissioner, through His Excellency the Governor. The Government should have been told at once' that the men had been allowed to leave their contingents. It was in the power of the officers to refuse to allow the men to leave, and the Government would, as soon as possible, rectify this matter. If the people had known that this sort of thing was going to happen they might not have been so enthusiastic in subscribing for the despatch of the contingents from New Zealand. Our men ought to be brought back when the war was over, and their services 08 soldiers no longer required, and it would then be a, matter for consideration as to what course should be adopted. What had been done was against, the intention of the peoplo of NeW Zealand. With regard to the action of the Auckland division in joining an artillery corps, Mr. Seddon said the explanation was satisfactory. They had done their duty, and he was very well satisfled. One awkward part of the matter was that tho financial arrangements regarding the men who have left their contingents would be upset. Many of the men had left orders behind so that payments might be made to their relatives. These orders would, of course, have to be stopped, which would cause discomfort and inconvenience, but they must take the consequences. Mr. Fowlds remarked that the South African Mounted Police were soldiers to all intents and purposes.

A TROOPER'S VIEW. A trooper of the First Contingent, writing from Bloemfontein on April 17, says : — "Our contingent is going all wrong, the officers are joining other companies, and two are in the hospital, so we are badly off in this respect. The Imperial Government are asking for mounted police from the colonial troops till the war is over. Nearly all our chaps have sent in their applications for it, but that is only to show Major Robin that we are dissatisfied with the way we have been treated lately. It has been sickening, I hope it will sit him up. If so, we shall withdraw our applications."