CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144484, 19 September 1914, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wo ore hoc responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. The writer's name, us a guarantee of good faith, muscl be enclosed in the letter. N.Z. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE REGIMENTAL FUNDS. Wellington Infantry Regiment, Awapuni Camp, September IT, i'JII. 10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —Re N.Z. Expeditionary Force Hegimciual Funds. About a month ago I asked tho .Mayor of New Plymouth and oilier representative gentlemen there to take stops to get the Wellington Military District to establish rcgi: mental funds. The Wellington Military District includes Hawke’s Day, YTairarapa, 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 tho 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 taxpayer as regards the cost of the force. It was clear to me, as 1 am glad to say it has become clear to practically ail the representative people of the Wellington Military District, with the exception ot Taranaki, that -regimental funds to be used by the regimen tai boards respectively lor the benefit and refreshment of tho men in the regiments are an absolute necessity. 1 regret to say that the New Plymouth committee, to whom the matter was referred, I understand, by tho Mayor of Now Plymouth, ruled out my application, and that only a purely local company fund of a comparatively small sura was granted. After a time in camp hero with other officers, a circular letter was sent to representative committees of tho Wellington Military District, and a scheme was laid out for the establishment of regimental funds under which there was to be found rhe sum of £l-750 by 'each of the four parts of the 'Wellington Military District, which respectively supplied one quarter of the infantry regiment and of the mounted regiment, designated tho Wellington Infantry and ■ _ Wellington Mounted Rifles. Taranaki has found 320 men for these regiments, besides other details. The scheme was immediately approved by all parts of tho 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 hut think that the people of Taranaki do not understand the position, and that on their knowing it they will insist on Taranaki coming into hue with the rest of tho Wellington Military District, and doing its share. I need hardly say how painful it is to me, in talking the scheme over with the reurosentativo men of the Wairarapa, Hawke’s Ray, Manawatu, and Wanganui districts, to have tq 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 brio the scheme, which will be of groat benefit to the men who arc going to the front. The Imperial regiments which have, boon established for a long lime have considerable funds at their disposal. The Wellington regiments, of course, having only now eomo into existence, start life with an absolutely empty exchequer. and have had to make the special request for funds which has been made. The money is required for a great number of purposes. Tho Government is doing all that is reasonably necessary for tho genera! welfare of tho troops, but day by day money can bo spent for the benefit of the troops. Already, had my regiment not had’ funds, ouo day at least , the men would hare had no mid-day meal. It might bo said it was their own fault, but they had been very hard at work, and had, as some people may call it, improvideiitly eaten the rations issued'for three meals at two. They have very healthy appetites, and have been accustomed to eat until saushed. Tho Government ration aiiows no great chance in diet. Fruit, paddings, and such things are extra, and I think the men are well entitled to them, say at least once or twice a hook, yet so long as the regiment has no funds they must do without. As they go on tho voyage, and as they go through the campaign, it is quite clear that great help may be gives: in what l ( uiay call practical necessities from week to week, assistance to he given to sick and wounded men, men invalided homo, and in many other ways. Wo have asked for a fund of £7OOO dis-' tributed between the mounted and infantry regiments on a pro rata basis. The fund will be administered by boards of trustees of the following officers, who will act cx officio, and thus have, as it wore, a perpetual succession—the officer commanding the regiment, his second in command, quarterimisler, and four company commanders. Proper meetings will ho held to vote expenditure, proper books and accounts will he 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, I hope it will now do so, and that instead of raising and giving money in relief of the general taxpayer it will subscribe and pay to tho regiments the money required.— I am, etc., WM. G. MALONE, Lieut-Colonel, Commanding the Wellington . Infantry Regiment. P.S.—ll is not too late to act. Tho money when raised can be sent after the troops to London, for credit at the Bank of New Zealand there, of ‘‘The Wellington Infantry Regiment,” and wo will divide up with the mounted regiment. [The above is referred to in our editorial columns.—Ed. T.H.j SIXTY MINUTES TO THE HOUR. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Much has been heard of tho improvements effected in the Public Service by the recently-appointed Commissioner, and probably no better means could have been devised to ensure efficiency and economy and assure the conscientious and capable Civil servant of fair play, than the creation of this important office. Much. however, still remains to be done, and it would be well for the Commissioner to consider tho propriety of appointing official timekeepers at centres where large numbers of Civil servants are employed. These gentlemen, and ladies, too, are supposed to work stated hours for sir' ■ ed pay, but possibly investigation would

show that there is considerable loss to the public in the shape of minutes late morning and afternoon, absences on private business during office hours, spells down below for smoking, and time wasted in “getting ready” to knock off at mid-day and afternoon. 7in official at £25 per mouth to do nothing else than keep an eye on working hours and see thart clocks display no eccentricities might appear an unwarrantable extravagance, but there are good reasons for believing that at certain centres the taxpayer of the Dominion would be in pocket ,by the employment of such a man.—Tam, etc., A TAXPAYER. APPEAL FOR CLOTHING. TO WIE EDITOR. Sir.—Knowing your groat obliging heart I would ask a favour of a towlines of your vauable paper for the benefit of all humanity. I see the helping hand of our nation is gladlyextended and would ask some help for our society, which is the NationalSpiritual Church of New Zealand. We are in communication with all branches of- the church throughout the world, through our president, Mr. W. O. Nation, Levin, and .Mrs. E. J. More, Budwill Street, AVelllngton, secretary. We arc asking gifts of ■ clothing or donations of any kind, which will be sent to different branches of our church where help is needed' and distributed by them to the suffering and needy in all parts of the world. Any further partitulars, can be received from MRS. APPLEYARD, Folford Street.