JOINING THE ARMY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5832, 24 February 1906, Page 5

JOINING THE ARMY.

A NEW ZEALAND LAD'S DILEMMA. SUMMONED BACK TO ENGLAND. “It’s a way they have in the army" is a familiar saying that may ho sometimes used with peculiar meaning. It certainly can in the cane of Edward James Knlbort, tho twenty-one year old son cf Mr C. P. Hnlbert, who was formerly Mayor of Christchurch for three successive terms. Young Hulhert had as a youth a roving disposition, which induced him to visit tho Old Country when but seventeen years old, and at Unit time when “tho glorious pageantry of war” was turning half the heads in England, ho was duly enlisted as a private in tho bill InnLskilling Dragoons, and was “broken in" at the Marlborough Barracks, Dublin. His section of tho regiment (those under twenty-one years of ago) was not sent to South Africa, and a groat number of bmltiine heroes were lost to history. They remained in Dublin, young Hnlbert taking seriously to soldiering, and earning an excellent name for himself from both officers and men. His smartness earned for him tho post of regimental signaller, and his papers say of him—“ Very good—no entry. Steady, tollable, sober man.” After serving his three years with the colours, ho was placed on tho reserve list, and turned out into tho world, with instructions to report himself cadi year for reserve drill. He made his way to London, but failing to find employment (without which ho was standing in imminent risk of starving), ho decided to come out to the colony. Ho arrived soaw ten months ago, and being recommended as a steady active young man, ho was taken on as a letter-carrier by tho Post Office authorities, and in that position Ids given every satisfaction. Ho joined tho Post and Telegraph Rifles, and as signalling instructor has been of the greatest service to tho corps. Then along came John Bull with a huge spool of red tape. Tho regular tions demand that- the term of_ reserve shall ho served in the United Kingdom, or in some part of tho Empire where a British garrison is stationed. New Zealand, luckily, is not included in that category, and a few days ago young Hnlbert received notice that ho must report himself in London to the authorities. This means that ho has had to resign from the Pest Office, the Post and Telegraph Iliflc.s loses the services of an expert signaller, ho will have to try and work hi.s passage Home (not being in affluent circumstances), ami must take the risk of starving in London merely in order to satisfy an Army regulation that should surely not apply in such a case. When ho was placed upon tho reserve ho became entitled to tho magnificent sum of sixpence a day, hut ho has never claimed it, and lias no intention to do so. Tho case is one of particular hardship—Hnlbert is only twenty-one years of ago—and certain poisons in Wellington have taken up the matter, and are urging the Premier to communicate with tho High Commissioner, to get that official to see if the Army authorities will allow the young man to put in his reserve service in tho colony. Every hoy of seventeen, with the sound of tho drum and fife in his care, hardly comprehends what ho is committing himself to when ’listing, and young Hnlbert finds that Ids term of reserve service docs not terminate until 1914 —eight years hence.