"HOW THE MONEY GOES."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1561, 18 May 1887, Page 2

"HOW THE MONEY GOES."

10 THE EDITOB. Fir, — Yonr yesterday's issue contained a letter Blgned "Argus," that needs some reply, as It is evidently a~malioiom attempt to mislead. As a matter of fact the Bam of £9 was last year voted by the Rifles to each of their officers, being abonfc half the cost of fuU*dress uniforms. Thoia officers had earned capitation for seven or eight years, and of course had paid monthly subscriptions during the same period ; but had never before reoelved aoythiug whatever from the Company*! funds, though m some tewns it Is usual for the whole cost of the "full-dress" to be borne by the Company. Recently, when oortain offioers were promoted, (probably not for misconduct or In» efficiency) the Company chose to make eaoh of them a smatl presentation m • mark of appreciation of long and faithful service, and, though nothing of the sort was expected, surely the men had • perfect right to do sb they chose m the matter, ao.pl surely It would have bean very ungracious for thoße offioers to have declined a compliment whioh was certainly not undeserved. The present state of the rifla range is muoh to be deplored, and should be remedied by the Defence Department, seeing that hitherto no Government money has been expended upon it. It would, however, have been better if " Argus," instead of penning bta malevolent effusion, had made a jubilee effort to raise funds with whioh to nut the butts m proper repair, more especially m he is believed to have made considerable use of the range. If " Argus " Is a member of the Rifles he should, m a manly and proper way and at the proper time, have opposed the votes of which he now seems to disapprove: and if he ii not a member, then he has no right whatever to interfere In matters that do not concern him. It Is unnecessary to remark on the miserable spirit displayed m "Argus's" letter, but It Is satisfactory to find that all Volunteers, Rifles or Guards, are unanimous In condemning It m the strongest possible terms. In oouolusion, it may be mentioned that the capitation now earned by the battalion officers (£3 eaoh per annum) still goes Into the Company funds, and those offioers derive no bonefit from it, nor have they oven a voice m its disposal, lam, etc., Cyclops. Afihbuaton, 18th May, 1887.