To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 147, 6 November 1863, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times.

Sir, —A short time ago the town compa* nies of the Napier Militia and Volunteers completed a period of 21 days, or rather T

peeks’, drill, of three days or sis hours a week. They are now in course of completing another period of fourteen weeks’ drill of two TioUrs a week. There is something so 'monstrously unfair, not to say dishonest, in all this, that X am tempted to give a few explanations, with a view of exposing such a palpable piece of injustice. The privates get paid at the rate of 2s. a drill. The officers get paid at the rate of 11s. 7d. for a Captain, 6s. 6d. for a Lieutenant, and ss. 3d. for an Ensign, for every day in the week, Sundays included! Tht privates get no pay when absent, the officers suffer no deduction when late or even absent. To show this deplorable piece of jobbery at one view, I beg to give the result in money at the end of each period of drill:—

In conclusion, I will only say that the officers are very ordinary men, with no great military capacity. The pay of the subordinate officers, which follows the same rule as the other officers, has not been referred to by me at all. Yours, &c.. Militiaman.

First nprjpd of 7 weeks, three drills in each— £ s. d. Privates’ pay for the term .. 2 2 0 Ensigns “ 12 17 3 Lieutenants “ 15 18 6 Captains “ , 21 17 7 ! Second period, 14 weeks, one (!) drill in each— Privates’ pay for the term ... 1 8 0 ! Ensigns “ ... . 20 14 6 ! Lieutenants “ 31 17 0 ! Captains “ ... 50 15 2 !