The Dundonald Dismissal

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1041, 15 July 1904, Page 2

The Dundonald Dismissal

Pai'liculars of the Causes Amncint.ion.—Onuyriiiht Bhibdanh, this day By tho mail comes 101 account of tho speech which led to tho trouble between of tho Canadian Government aud General DunJonald. Tho latter, epoaUing at a banquet in his honour at tho Military Institute, strongly objected to political interforcnco in tho mattor of tho appointment of oflicers, Mr Fisher, Ministor for Agriculture, having scratched out tho namo of a gentiomnn whom Gonoral Dundonald considered worthy to serve tho King in a Scottish regiment. Commenting on this action. General Dundonald said: "I am certain that had Mr Fisher's inclination led him to soldiery instead of to agriculture ho would feol annoyed, perhaps, on personal grounds, at the extraordinary lack of etiquette involved in soutching out tho name of a gentleman put forward by a man whoso business it is to find efficient officers for tho Militia; but on personal grounds, gentlemen, 1 don't in the least mind the lack of oti. quelle, which affects me little, I have been two yoars in Ottawa, gentlemen, but on national grounds I feel anxious that tho militia may bo kept free from party politics." Tho speech ereatod a sensation among those who heard it, Thoy recognised that should it obtain publicity it would menu that Dundonald might ko compelled to resign, Consequently inllnenco was used with tho |local press to secure its suppression in tho reports published ; but tho story loakcd eut through tho viEit paid to Ottawa by ono of Fisher's friends who was prcsont at tho banquet,