War Time.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 77, 30 August 1912, Page 4

War Time.

A NEW ZEALANOER'S RECOLLEC-

TIONS.

Jack Harris relates some of his Boer war experiences:—

When the war started in South Africa a piece of land was offered to each of us who went right through the campaign from beginning to end. Well, a groat number went through tho war safely, and at its finish we were drafted back to Johannesburg and other large towns. My regiment, the Imperial Light Horse a under Lord Kitchener's brother, Sir Walter Kitchener, made a record march to Klerksdorp to Johannesburg, where we were offered ss. a day to lay down tram-lines. Five shillings a day! Think of it! Any man who has been there knows that the cheapest meal to lie procured in Johannesburg is at the Standard Cafe, Commissioner Street, at a cost of 2s. The men did not fall over themselves in rushing this job. notwithstanding that they were nearly starving, so the authorities started the Natal Border Police, for fluty on the borders of Zululand and Natal. I joined the corps, served my time, and left for Capetown. The capitalists brought" the Chinese into the country to work tho mines, and it was at once apparent that all the British had fouoht for was the introduction of cheap labor to benefit the millionaire mine-owners. Tho men who bad fought for their country (?) had boon forced to join the army by reason of semi-starvation, and jobless and moneyless were left stranded in South Africa to make room for clieno Chinese labor. Fancy a man boasting that be has " fought for his country " when his country oa°ts him aside like n squeezed nranie. It was the capitalists who wanted South Africa for purposes of free nnd unfettered exploitation. They fried to collar it once "on their own." but failed, so they got Britain to do their dirty work, offered fire bob a day for volunteers, and took possession r f the country by the aid of deluded British workers from all purls of the Empire. What a reproach—to fight in such a cause against rood, true-hearted people for five hob a day. For the sake of humanity I trust that fellow-workers in this country will never again be tempted to fall so low in dishonor and disgrace.