CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 85, 6 September 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

'Our columns are open for free discussion; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents.]

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD. Sir, —Having been a member of the Armed Constabulary in 1872, and from which corps I got my discharge in the usual manner; and residing since then in Gisborne, which place, being under martial law, I was compelled to join either Militia or Volunteers, the latter corps was the one I joined on account of being asked by several of my friends who knew of my abilities, and wished me to become their drill instructor, which position I had previously held when I was in the Armed Constabulary ; but what was my astonishment and surprise, when I was informed by Captain Winter, of the Gisborne Rifle Volunteers, that he had received a letter from Inspector Pitt, stating that my character was not good enough to be a member of that corps, which letter was read before the Company on parade. 1 would now ask how it is that the Government should keep such men as Inspector Pitt on pay when he trifles with the rights and liberties of men in a most despotic manner, a manner totally unbecoming a gentleman and an officer ? I felt very much hurt at this treatment, so I resolved to see the Defence Minister, and let him know my grievance when he visited Gisborne. Having seen him and told him my grievance, he said he would see Inspector Pitt about it, but could not find him. I then resolved to lay the matter before the public, that they might know the true cause of this most flagrant wrong —a wrong inflicted on me from no cause whatever. I would like to know’ how it is that a man like Inspector Pitt, a paid servant of the Government, should dare attempt to meddle with the rights of people, espeeially with a man who voluntarily joins a corps for the national good, and w-elfare of his fellow man, which presumption on the part of Inspector Pitt, would only tend to create discord and disunion amongst the Volunteers of Gisborne. It is high time that this sort of thing should be seen to, and the matter rectified, considering that my character is injured by the petty meddling of an officer who should have known better than to interfere with me in joining a corps like the Gisborne Rifle Volunteers. Hoping that the Volunteers and public will see to the matter and have it rectified as soon as possible for the sake of justice to myself and the credit of the corps to which I belong.—l am, sir, yours, &c., Abraham Stott, Late Sergeant Armed Constabulary.

[We have complied with Mr. Stott’s repeated request to publish this letter; but we still think he has taken at once the most injudicious and ineffective means of remedying a grievance in which no one cun possibly have an interest outside his own corps.—Ed. P.B.N.]