TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1900.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6717, 13 February 1900, Page 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1900.

THE COMMAND OF THE CANTER- ~ . BURY TROOP.

The Canterbury Troop > of the Third Contingent is still without a leader. The gentleman'en whom the task of appointing a com,m.ander devolved selected Maijor Jowsey, of Timaru. But the Government chose Major Jowsey as 'commander of the whole Contingent, and the Canterbury War Fund Committee was obliged to look elsewhere. Its second choice fell en Colonel Fox. The Government declined to approve of Colonel Fox's appointment. The reasons which' dictated its refusal were published yesterday, and there is no need, therefore, to recount them here. It is sufficient to say that the objections to Colonel Fox were from a military point of view, based on solid grounds. But the War Fund Committee, being composed jtrineipally of civilians, either attached insufficient importance to the obligations of military precedence or was prepared to sacrifice etiquette in order to ensure Colonel Fox's appointment. It was unable to achieve: it's and-in-'consetitience it imagines itself badly treated. We^sympathise with the committee in its disappointment, although we consider it was not entitled to expect the Premier' to accede to its rather unusual request. But much as we, sympathise with it, we cannot 'help deploring very deeply the attempt imade in certain quarters to introduce party politics into the matter. The Premier's refusal to accept Colonel Fox -either as commander of the Contingent or as leader of the Canterbury Troop was. supported, as we have already remarked, by reasons which appear to us sufficient, and the inference of some , of Mr Seddon's opponents, ; that his action was the outcome either of political bias or of personal animosity to Colonel Fox is neither-true nor in good taste. It is as reprehensible- as:. the vapouring; of a contemporary who desires to. hoM Mr Sed--don/reslferisible for "thfe. blood of the, men wiittlfalßilsbuth/^fw^^ppse its views and'thei^m'jieril.differ.bn^e appointment of Maj^ilo^pji-^-t'an^^gel.of this sorb is calculated rl^r^i^ei'cite ; ridicule than to convince 'the -pubiics that the Premier's action is wrong.