KILLING VOLUNTEERING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2184, 7 May 1908, Page 4

KILLING VOLUNTEERING.

RED-TAPE AND INDIFFERENCE. A VOLUNTEER'S TROUBLES. Under tlio heading, “Killing Volunteering,” a Brief but interesting and instructive article recently appeared in the “New Zealand Tunes. It stated that Private Whiting ton, of the Omtnake Mounted Hi lies, injured himself wlhilo oil service at the Easter manoeuvres, and was unable to entrain .for 'his ihomo with his COlll7 radrs. die subsequently went to hospital, and was ill enough to stay there a week. The Makara County ranger found Private Whitington’s horse astray at Pareinntn. The (horse was taken* to Jolinsonville and impounded. Private Whitington, on discharge from the hospital, had 110 money. iHe went to Jolinsonville, apparently to get his horse, as he could not proceed Ihomo without money. A Volunteer officer gave him an order that enabled him to stay at an hotel. He is still at Jolinsonville, and yesterday his horse was still impounded. Private Whitington wias anxious about his horso, 'which is his own property, and by tho 'Defence regulations liable for service when tlio man, as a mounted Volunteer, is called upon. The Defence Department desires to know where every troop horse may be found. .Private AVhitingtou’s horse may be (found in the Jolinsonville pound should the Defence Department suddenly mobilise the troops. As the horso had been brought fourteen miles to tho pound there is conduct money to pay, and the charges, including this driving fee and the half-crown .a day maintenance, etc., amounted yestorday to £2 is Gd. Tho local Volunteer officers were 11 liable to get the iliorso out of the pound. A member of the iMakara County Council who sent ia request that the horso should be delivered to its owner Ifroe of dharges was unable to effect its discharge from the pound. Tlio District Defence Office, which is sometimes understood to havo been established for the fostering of the military spirit, has announced that this is a company matter, and up to yesterday refused to do anything. The company of which the private and his liorso are part, belongs to Opunako, and thoOpunako Mounted Rifles belong to the Defence forces of. Now Zealand, and the district forces are under the couitnoil of the District Defence Office. If it is the duty of Private Whitington to servo his country it is tho duty of the District Defonco Office to see that Private Whitington and his horso got hack to Opunake free of all charges, especially seeing that fliis unfortunate man was so badly hurt in tho performance of bis duty that 'he had to go to hospital for a week. It is at least probablo that Private Whitington _ will now be a little tired ot soldiering, especially if he is personally called upon to .pay tho charges entailed, by his long detention and the detention of his horse. It is hardly conceivable that .the District Defence Office conkl bo bitten with tho red-tape microbe so badly.