BASE BUREAU.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 3

BASE BUREAU.

Sir, —I notice that tho Hon. tho Minister of Dofenco proposes to dispatch a special officer to Egypt to report on tho irregularities in delivery of mails and tho caro of tho sick and wounded. The Minister's contention hitherto'has bcon that thero v.'as 110 necessity to appoint anyone outsido tho military ollicors_ who wore doing tho work, and doing it satisfactorily. 111 view of this fact, tho reported decision reads strangely, and on tho face of it displays tho weakness of tho Minister's attitude towards tho appointment of a civil agent. Military officials aro tied and not able to expross their opinions through tho Press, but tho writer has spoken ■ With many pi'ivatoly as to

done by one of their number. Tho answer in each instance was emphatically "No." Colonels Esson and Charters and Major Hall may be, and no doubt, are, able men, though the specialised training of the first two mentioned does not bespeak the essential knowledge for work of the description necessary. Quite nparc from this, the very fact that they aro. under military law precludes that übiquity which is so essential herein. The demand for a semi-private channel of communication between the soldiers and relatives is daily growing moro insistent, also the feeling that valuable: timo is being wasted in- not dispatching a civil officer. Tho principle of civil, and military cooperation is now fully admitted both in Great Britain and New Zealand. Why, then, should it be so strongly opposed at the base in Egypt? Up to the present the writer has not seen any substantial argument quoted against the appointment, and he hopes that public opinion will bostir itself to the end that the semi-private channel of communication referred to above will be opened and complaints silenced. vThe general public at this advanced stage wants action, and can well afford to do without reports except they are progress reports of the good work being done.— I am, etc., ÜBIQUE.