RECEPTION OF IMPERIAL TROOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11576, 14 February 1901, Page 3

RECEPTION OF IMPERIAL TROOPS.

TO THE EDITOR. ' Sir,—At a'general meeting of the Reception Committee on Tuesday night Mr. Spragg again said that Lord Roberts' appeal had special reference to the treating of soldiers by a public responsible body such as our committee. This I deny. Your " only ' General' " remarks in Wednesday's issue: " It was certainly deference to the wishes of Lord Roberts that won the day for temperance as regards the entertainment of the troops." I think that if you will kindly reprint Lord Roberts' appeal, so that your fellow citizens may judge for themselves, you will be doing the city a service. We are about to do a shameful thing, and wo may reap just punishment for it. At the bidding of a small number of teetotallers Auckland, winch considers itself not the meanest' of the cities of New Zealand, intends deliberately to set class against class. If a large deputation of civilians were to visit us, should we insult them as we are insulting our military guests? But, because they are soldiers, we are acting towards them in exactly the same spirit as tho low English publican who puts up a notice: ''No soldier served here." When the troops wero fighting our battles, Auckland was lavish— most-fulsome— her praise; when tho fighting is nearly over she says, No beer for you ; you are soldiers, and will make beasts of yourselves." Do we think that the men will be blind to our conduct? Have we forgotten Kipling's lines: Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool, You bet that Tommy knows. —I am, etc., H. T. Ptcroft. Parnell, February 13, 1901. The following is the part of Lord Roberta' appeal bearing on this point:—"lt is about the character of this welcome, and the effect it may have on the reputations of the troops whom I have been so proud to command, that I am anxious, and that I venture to express an opinion. My sincere hope is that the welcome may not take tho form of ' treating' the- men to stimulants in publichouses or in the streets, and thus lead them into excesses which must tend to degrade those whom the nation delights to honour, and to lower the 'Soldier of the Queen' in the eyes of the world—that .vorld which has watched with undisguised admiration tho grand work tlfey have performed for their Sovereign and their country. From the very kindness of their hearts, their innate politeness, and their gratitude for the welcome accorded them, it will be difficult for the men to refuse what is offered to them by their too generous friends. I, therefore, beg earnestly that the British public will refrain from tempting my gallant comrades, but will rather aid them to uphold the splendid reputation they have won for tho Imperial army."