Colonel Fox's Resignation.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 280, 5 April 1894, Page 3

Colonel Fox's Resignation.

STIFF CHARGES FOR MR SEDDOI TO ANSWER. (PUB PRESS ASSOCIATION ) Wellington, April 4. Ministers to-day received from th Premier Colonel Fox's two letters, i; which he suggested that he should b allowed to resign on certain conditions In one Colonel Fox expresses bis desir to be released from his contract with tta Government, conditionally uponhisbeiuj granted a sum of .£IOOO as reasonable compensation for the loss ho has sus tamed in coming out here and the terrai nation of his engagement. A furthe condition is passages back to Englant for himself and bis military servant. It the event of these terms being accepted a formal resignation is attached, anc reasons why the conclusion of the en gagement is desirable are given. The reasons are very numerous, but the chic; are that the Premier, as Minister foi Defence, controls the whole of tht defences and the Defence Force, in con sequence of which the force was cleteri orated ; that he lias retained th€ services of useless officers and non-coin missioned officers, and of corps recom mended to be disbanded - this presumably for political reasons, as the Premiei knew money was urgently needed for the chief ports ; that the Premier has refused to allow him to take, up the duties ol Commandant, and he* is, therefore, only Commandant in name ; that he required a staff-officer, and recommended the appointment of one, and his recommendation was ignored ; that the Premier sent his Acting.Under-Secretary for Defence to make extracts from his (Colonel Fox's) letter book behind his back ; that the Premier laid the Voluuteer Report on the table of the House of Representatives in such a manner as to prejudice him and it ; that the Premier sent that report to various persons, asking their opinions upon it, bnt only published that of Sir William Jervois, which differed in some respects from the report, and did not publish that of the Colonial Defence Committee, which was in favour of it ; that he (Colonel Fox) was detained in Wellington for a month doing nothing, on the ground that he was to be consulted re an ammunition contract, which, however, had not yet been put before him ; that the Premier asked his opinion as to the MartiniHenri rifle contract, and then sent liis memo of advice to the contractors, but, on receipt of Sir William Jervois' letter, the Premier suspended the arrangements ■which he (Colonel Fox) had made for Bending six big guns to England to be chase-hooped ; that the defence plans were transferred to the Public Works Department against bis recommendation ; that, without reference to him, the Premier consulted a subordinate as to what stores which he (Colonel Fox) had said were required should be dispensed with. Colouel Fox further stated that, as it was apparent that his advice was either unsought or disregarded, he was Commandant only in name, and tlierc fore the Government must approve of bis action in resigning.