A PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2972, 9 January 1917, Page 5

A PROTEST

Sir,— Kindly allow me spaco in your ! -fcaper to publish tne enclosed letter.-— ' ('1 am, etc., \ ' G. FOREMAN. (The Clerk, : . ' . :' Wairarapa South County Council, Oartertoß. . . . -Dear Sir,—l hereby tender .my ,reteignation as a member of the Wairalapa South County Council (Matingai laki Riding). My reasons for resign- ' ing are that owing to the action of the Defence authorities bringing my threo sons before the Military. Court at Masterton, under'Section 35 of the Military Sorvfce Act, .which action was unwarranted and" unfair.' The strings were pulled from Masterton,. and my sons and myself wero singled out for this special treatment;- while many families escaped who have not sent, nor offered, to send, a single one of their sons to the front! In. my case, ' one of my sons had enlisted, and had aotuauy been in camp for about two months .'when ho was • discharged as medically unfit. My youngest son also enlisted, and would go into camp immediately, but, only being in his twentieth year, is not yet of military age. 1 resign as a protest against such ' treatment,' which I and my family feel • very keenly,'and I feel that it would ■bo best for me to withdraw from public life. The mud has'been thrown,, and some of it will stick, although unjustly. I claim to bo as much a lovcr.,of my country as anyone, and all I claim is that I and my family should: receive equal treatment with, my follow countrymen. In my case, aspersions, public and privato, have been hurled at me, and I and my family have been made scapegoats. I wish to thank my fellow councillors for the courteous treatment ineted.out to me whilst I have been, a member, and to state that my resignation has nothing , , whatever to do with county affairs. In conclusion, I wish all your councillors and yourself the compliments of tho! seaKon.—Yours faithfully, G. FOREMAN, . , -, •'■ . .Gladstone.