The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, DECEMBER 20, 1901. SLEEPING ON DUTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 20 December 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, DECEMBER 20, 1901. SLEEPING ON DUTY.

We are cot surprised to note the cablegram from the Agcnt-fieiieral states that, the release of Trooper 'l'asker was an exceptional circumslanee. and that in granting the request for his release tlie Imperial Government was influenced by a desire to show its warm appreciation of New Zealand's patriotism and devotion to the interevs of the Umpire, hut it is a most humiliating position to have placed this colony in. It .s easy to understand the feeling of Tasker’s friends on his behalf, but the offence of sleeping at one’s post while on active service is so serious as to require stern punishment. It is not merely that a man has risked his own life, but by lus carelessness, to use a mild term, he may have placed hundreds of lives in jeopardy. If the real history of some if tne .surprises of the British could be given, it would no doubt be found in some cases that a negligent sentry had greatly facilitated the Boers when they were creeping on to our men. In the case of Trooper Tasker it wa; proved beyond question, so the records. state, that he was found asleep wlr’ie or. sentry duty. Extenuating circumstances have been urged in favor of the trooper, hut we have heard of none that could justify this colony u interfering on behalf of the man. The tret that lie is a New Zealander surely does not justify the colony in making such a fuss to prevent just punishment being inflicted. It has truly been said that the sentence passed was a hard one. Those of us who are away from the seat ol lighting are inclined to be soft-hearted in regard to delinquencies of the kind ; but supposing that a squad that had left Gisborne was surprised and killed without a chance of defending themselves lier.au.se a sentry had preferred sleep to dutv what would the verdict upon the culprit lie ? In The case of Tasker, it seems that the offending man had beer very hard-worked, and was not fit to be put upon sentry duty, but in times of war men have to be prepar'd to sacrifice themselves to a great extent, ; for their own safety and that of their comrades they must exercise vigilance and endure hardships innumerable, and no soldier can feel much sympathy for a man who comfortably oozes off.to sleep at the post at a time when the alert enemy is hovering around ready for sniping purposes or surprise attack. It is pleasing . to know that the Imperial Government has done this act of grace out of regard for the people of New Zealand, hut the pity is that the dispensing of favors did not take some other form than yielding to an agitation on behalf of men who have been rightly, though severely punished for neglect of duty.