THE PREMIER ON THE WAR OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11842, 20 December 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE PREMIER ON THE WAR OFFICE.

A SNUB RESENTED. TROOPER TASKER'S CASE. Wellington, December 14. Speaking to-day at a luncheon to returned troopers the Premier said in reference to the case of Trooper Tasker, of Wellington, sentenced to imprisonment v for sleeping at his post, that as assertions had been made as to the treatment of the offending trooper ; on the passage from the Cape to England , the Government had asked ; for the s fullest information in reference to the case. He went on to say that though he had called attention to the alleged severity exercised on the passage, and had asked again for reconsideration by the War Office, lie regretted to say the War Office seemed to consider it out of place to do anything in the ' matter. V It would be just as well, said Mr. Seddon, for the War Office to clearly understand, now that the colony was playing a most important part, and would in the future play a most important part in South Africa, .that the War Office must- not snub the colonies. (Applause.) When the Agent-General cabled to him a couple of days ago saying that they were not inclined to listen to him he (the Premier) came to the conclusion that it was about time that the same War Office, which, in his opinion, had forced away from itself that sympathy find support which it ought to have, should know its position. He had hoped, and still hoped, that with Lord Roberts at its head it would be brought into closer touch with the people. Mr. Seddon added that if the colonial forces had been given a freer hand in South Africa there would have been a- much better tale to tell to-day. He thought himself that a week's imprisonment would have been quite sufficient in Tasker' case.