At a time when the volunteer spirit seems to be roused into activity amongst the people of this province, it is unfortunate that the members of companies in those very districts where the movement has always been vigorously supported, should have cause to accuse the Government of bad faith. Perhaps in no other part of the colony have the settlers more cheerfully organised for the purposes of selfdefence, than in the Eangitikei district: Some years ago, when the presen writer lived there, a Rangitikei volunteer .was not a mere holiday-soldier. The native difficulty was in a much more, critical condition than at present, and except the local volunteers, no other means existed for the protection of life and property in a district which, while one of the most flourishing in the colony, was also the centre of a large native population, and therefore continually exposed to the danger of a native rising. From first to last the Eangitikei settlers have been left to protect themselves, and save that a small body of mounted troopers were for a year or more located there, they had no material aid from the Government. The settlers proved equal to the occasion. | All through the Taranaki and Waikatb wars, their volunteer companies— horse j and foot — were maintained in the highest degree of efficiency, and it was owing f to this, as well as to the forbearance | shown in dealing with the natives, that peace was never broken.
Under these circumstances, we tlmik the Kangitikei Volunteers have just cause to complain oi* their present treatment. The existing Volunteer Act provides that a capitation allowance of £2 10s a year should be .given to each efficient volunteer, a very small sum indeed when the services rendered are taken into consideration- — and this, we are given to understand, has not yet been paid to the members of the Kaugitikei companies who hold certificates of efficiency. The money for the previous year's service was duo on the 30th of last June ; and all the necessary formalities were complied with in transmitting the application to the Government for payment, yet the fact remains that after a lapse.bf four months the claims of those men^re still unsatisfied. Not only is . this* the case, but to reiterated applications' the Government have not even vouchsafed a reply, and the men whose services in past years have perhaps saved the colony the ruinous expense of a local war; are now compelled to dun the Treasury for a paltry debt, which it is discreditable to the colony that it should owef. We trust the Government, for their own sake, will pay those men wibhout any further delay.
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Bibliographic details
Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2588, 24 October 1867, Page 3
Word Count
443Untitled Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2588, 24 October 1867, Page 3
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