LIVING IN PACKING CASES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 115, 18 May 1931, Page 5

LIVING IN PACKING CASES

OFFICIALS DEMAND RENT. FRENCH OFFICER LN AFRICA. The history of red tape in France is already rich in curiosities. But it probably has no better example ihai one which was revealed recently in the course of a debate in the Senate cn the Army Estimates. An officer in charge of an African garrison had been unable to find any better lodging than a large nox or packing case, in which an i uroplaiic iiad been shipped. Now, it was stated, the Army pay authorities were rail'.ng on him to pay rent for the case out of his lodging allowance. The story was told by General Her sehauer when pleading L ’or more generous treatment of officers of the colonial service. They occupied p ists of rhe greatest importance, he sac I, us it w..s well known that native troops in French colonies drew their morale not from any sense of military discipline, but from personal devotion to their leaders. These leaders, the speaker continued, were insufficiently paid. As th"y undertook long terms of service, they ought to have adequate remuneration and be well lodged and given special privileges. After calling attenti.ni to the nbo’C instance, General Hersehauer declared that kind of thing would not do. More generous treatment must b j accorded k> colonial officers, and espetm.'ly to those who were spending tnoir lives in African deserts in order to keej) the French flag flying.