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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 29 August 1861, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times. Sih, —Agreeably to a resolution passed at a meeting of Working Men on the 10th instant, a letter was written to Major Douglas, justly complaining of the Military being allowed to work in and about the town, to the exclusion of the settlers, and the following answer was received The Officer commanding the Troops has received a letter signed by certain Working Men in Napier, complaining of soldiers being allowed to work for civilians, and, in reply he begs to say, that when the civil authorities communicate with him, he will be happy to attend to then' recommendation on this subject. Napier, New Zealand, August 13, 1861. Now, with all due deference to the Major, I beg to say he is quite wrong, and I will prove it. First, the civil authorities, I am sorry to say, have not the \Vorking Man’s interest at heart, as can be plainly seen on perusal of the answer from the Superintendent to the Working men of the Bth instant; and why? It does not affect them. Second, it is totally against the war office regulations for Military to be employed, (except on particular occasions,) which was proved in Auckland in 1850, when the first Superintendent was elected, (vide Horse Guards Circular to Colonel Wynyard, referring to Military interference with civil affairs.) Third, I see the Milita are to he called out shortly; for what ? Is it to take the place of the regulars, and allow the detachment of tho 11th to do duty in real Militia style, as they are partly doing at present? Or is it to do what Governor Browne says,—protect themselves. If so, the sooner we lose the military here, the better for Napier for to my certain knowledge they are doing this place, as well as the working man, more harm than good. Should any doubt this 1 ' assertion, let them ponder thisfact, —If civilians were encouraged here to take the place of the military, who are at this moment employed in the capacity of limeburners, laborers, milkmen, servants, shoemakers, tailors, washerwomen, dressmakers, <tc., <tc., would not our little town be in a much more wholesome state, for what dependence can we have on a community here to-day and ordered elsewhere at any moment ? The fact speaks for itself. Fourth, let the Major consider it fair to the working men, who are under very heavy expenses that the Military are not —that they, the Military, should be allowed to compete with civilians, more especially at the present season, when labor is so scarce ? And lastly, if we have to bear the expense of our military friends, in all that’s fair, let us have what employment is to he had, to enable us to do it. J g-. £« A WORKING MAN.