The Newtown Park Scandal.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1901, Page 3

The Newtown Park Scandal.

Oamaru Mail. The public who have to pay will insist that the scope of the enquiry shall go beyond an investigation into the conduct of “the four” who “spoiled the whole show.’’ It will have to include one into the failure of the Commandant and those under him who so grossly mismanaged matters as to give occasion for the “di-graeeful proceedings.” Waieaeapa Daily Times. Who is responsible for the recent volunteer scandal at Wellington ? There can he hut one reply, and that is “ the Minister for Defence.” The proposed enquiry, which Mr Seddon concedes, must be a farce. The Minister for Defence can do no wrong, therefore some miserable and helpless subordinate has to be gibbeted in his stead. The more enquiry there be, the mox-e we shall get away from the real culprit, who, at any cost, must be shielded, tor the King can do no wrong. Manawatu Paemee, Lord Kitchener took drastic measures with the kid-glove officers who preferred loafing round the hotels and pleasure resorts in Capetown to remaining with their regiments at the front during the war in Africa. Had the Wellington Defence Staff officers been compelled to share the discomforts of Newtown Park along with the troopers, instead of frequenting the clubs and hotels in town, we are quite sure the caterer would very quickly have been compelled to too the line and carry out his contract to the letter. Pahiatua Heeald. While we cannot agree with the actions of the men in the method adopted to air grievances, we certainly think the Commandant proved himself absolutely unfit for his position, and the Defence Minister should lose no time in removing him. The fact of the matter is Colonel Pole-Penton is saturated with Imperial methods, and cannot shake himself loose from a military system under which the military rank and file the back-bone of the Empire’s defenders, are treated in many respects like animals of the lower order; but the Commandant mistakes his men if he thinks the colonial volunteers will submit to such treatment. Whoever the caterers and providores for the camp wore (says the Wairarapa Leader) they should bo exposed in their true colours, and wo do sincerely hope that not one penny piece will be paid over by the Government to the contractors till it is shown how it came about that our volunteers were half starved, and their horses wholly starved.