VOLUNTEER SCRIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 10

VOLUNTEER SCRIP.

A numerous deputation of Volunteers waited upon His Honour the Superintendent on Tuesday with reference to the payment of the sum of money voted by the Provincial Council in lieu of land grants to Volunteers. Among those present were Messrs Copeland, Macandrew, Nightingale, Sibbald, Strode, and Wales. Mr C. S. Reeves, M.P.C., who introduced the deputation, said they wished to know if the Government could pay at once the amount voted, instead of delaying payment until the beginning of next year. The Superintendent said the only thing was that the Government were not supposed to spend all the votes at once. He thought the intention was to pay this amount at the end of the year. Mr Reeves said, that seeing the arrangement was looked upon as a compromise by many members of the Council, and also he thought by some members of the Government, it was not unreasonable to ask that the amount should be paid at once. The Superintendent thought the Volunteers would be in a better position if they got the money in January next than if they got their land certificates. Mr Wales pointed out that if the Volunteers had got their certificates for 30 acres of land they would have been able to take possession ai?.d make some use of it. As a compromise had been agreed to by which the Volunteers were to get only half the value of the land, they thought the Government might strain a point and give the money at once. Half of what the Volunteers ought to get according to the Act had been taken away, and he thought it was only fair the Government should meet the Volunteers in the same way, and pay them as soon as possible. The Superintendent said that of course the Government had to study ways and means, and the Treasurer made out that it would be convenient to pay this sum at the end of the year. He did not know that it would be convenient to pay it before then. However, he would bring the matter before the Treasurer again in order to see what might be done. Mr Reeves might mention that before His Honour went to Wellington several Volunteers who were entitled to some portion of the money called upon him (Mr Reeves) to see if he could do anything in the matter. He waited upon Messrs Reid and Turnbull, and they both agreed that it would probably be as well to pay the money at once instead of waiting till January next. He thought His Honour also agreed with that view. The Superintendent said he had understood from Mr Reeves that he saw certain members of the Executive, nnd they were all agreeable. He (the Superintendent) then said that if it were bo he would not stand in the way. However, when he saw the members of the Executive in their collective capacity it appeared that there must have been some misunderstanding. Mr Reeves thought there could have been no misunderstanding, as he put it to the members of the Executive point-blank. The Superintendent said it was not a very great sum, but at the same time there were a great many other liabilities, all made up of small amounts ; and if every man went to the Government and said, "You must pay my account at once," they would soon come to the ground. Mr Copeland pointed out that the Volunteers were reconciled to receiving only half what they were entitled to by the consideration that they would get the money at once. Mr Wales said it should be remembered that a great many of those who were to receive the allowance of £15 were entitled to their land two years ago. The Superintendent said they differed entirely on the point as to whether the Volunteers were entitled to the land. However, he would lay the matter before the Executive that day, and do what he could to obtain what the deputation requested. The deputation then withdrew.