NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 28, 19 September 1914, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

THE AWAPUNS CAMP.

[Pun Press Association.! Palmerston N., September 18. Hon. Jas. Allen, Minister, for Defence, visited Palmerston North today and inspected the troops at Awapuni camp. He addressed the men and left for Auckland during the afternoon to inspect the camp there.

DANNEVIRKE ENTHUSIASM.

Dannevirke, September 19

A successful patriotic concert, held here last night in aid of the fence fund, realised about £2OO. This amount included the sale of a Union Jack, which brought £125 10s, the eventual purchaser being Mr L. G. Crosse, Weber, at £45. I \ REGIMENTAL FUNDS. \ AN APPEAL TO TARANAKI. LETTER FROM COL. MALONE. - Lt.-Col. W. G. Malone writes as follows’ from the Palmerston Camp:— Re N.Z. Expeditionary Force Regimental Fund.—About a month ago I asked the Mayor of New Plymouth and other representative gentlemen there to take steps to get the Wellington Military District to establish regimental funds. The Wellington Military District includes Hawke’s Ray, Wairarapa. Wellington, Manawatu, Wanganui, and Taranaki districts. As you know, the Wellington Military District part of the Expeditionary Force is a regiment of mounted rifles, a regiment of infantry, and a share of other smaller units. The Government had asked the people of the Dominion to subscribe money for payment to the Government in connection with the Expeditionary Force. This would of course be in relief of the general taxpayer as regards the cost of the force. It was clear to me, as I

am glad to say it has become clear to practically all the representative people of the Wellington Military District, with the exception of Taranaki, that a regimental fund to be used by regimental boards respectively for the direct benefit and refreshment of the men in the regiments is an absolute necessity. I regret to say that the New Plymouth Committee, to whom the matter was referred,' I understand, by the Mayor of New Plymouth, ruled out my application. and that only a purely local company fund of a comparatively small sum was granted. After a time in camp here with other officers, a circular letter was sent to representative committees of the Wellington Military District, and a scheme was laid out for the establishment of regimental funds, under which there was to he found flip sum of .C 1750 by each of tho four part , of the Wellington Military District, which respectively supplied one quarter of the infantry regiment and of the mountid regiment, designated the Wellington infantry and Wellington mounted rifles. Taranaki has found 320 men for these regiments, besides otner details. The scheme was immediately approved by all parts of the Wellington Military District, except, I regret to say, Taranaki, and the respective amounts have been either paid or promised, I understand, by all except Taranaki. This circular-letter, I understand, was like my own personal application ruled out by the representatives of the Committees in Taranaki. I can but think that the people of Taranaki do not understand the position, and that on their knowing it they, will insist on Taranaki coming into line with the rest of the Wellington Military District,' and doing its share. I need hardly say hew painful it is to me, in talking the scheme over with tHe representative men of Wairarapa,' Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, and Wanganui. Districts, fo have to apologise for the part of the Dominion from which I myself come. I did think, that as Taranaki was sending one quarter of the troops, they would readily help the scheme, which will be of great benefit to tbo men who are going to the front. The Imperial regiments which have been established for a long time have considerable funds at their disposal. The Wellington regiments, of course, having only now come into existence, start life with an absolutely empty exchequer, and have had 0 make the special request for funds which has been made. The money is required for a great number of purposes. The Government is doing all that is reasonably necessary for the general welfare of the troops, but day by day money can be spent for the benefit of the troops. Already, had my regiment not had funds, one day at least the men would have had no mid-day meal. It might be said it was their own fault, but they had been very hard at work, and had, as some people may call it, improvidently eaten the rations issued for three meals at two. They havqj very healthy appetites, and have been accustomed to eat until satisfied. The Government ration allows no great change iff diet. Fruit, puddings, and such things are extra, and I think the men are well entitled to'them, say, at least once or twice a week, yet so long as the regiments have no funds they must do without. As they go on the voyage, and as they go through the campaign, it is quite clear that great help may bo given in what I may call practical necessities* from week to week, assistance to be given to sick and wound d men, men invalided home and in many other ways. We have asked for a fund of £7OOO distributed between the mounted and infantry regiments on « pro rata basis. The- fund will be administered by Boards of Trustees of the following officers, who will act ex officio, and thus have its it were a perpetual succession :— The officer commanding the regiment, his second in comarand, quartermaster, and f nur company commanders. Proper ’meetings will be held to vote expenditure, proper books and accounts will be kept, and the funds administered in a proper business-like way. If Taranaki lias not recognised, what I venture to call its duty in the matter, 1 hope it will now do so, and that instead of raising and giving money in relief of the general tax-payer, it will subscribe and pay to the regiments the money required.—Yours faithfully, W. G. MALONE, Lieut.-Colonel, commanding the Wellington Infantry Regiment.

P.S.—lt is not too late to act. The money when raised can be sent after the troops to London—for credit at Bank of New Zealand there, of the Wellington Infantry Eegi« ment, and we will divide up with, the mounted regiment. /