EX-BOER WAR SOLDIERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 68, 24 June 1916, Page 5

EX-BOER WAR SOLDIERS.

I, •• jrrs v •" «a«a»> PROPOSAL FOR SEPARATE UN||r DISAPPROVED. % The following correspondcne concerning the proposal to form a 3s- - unit of ex-Boei ; :|\ r ar soldiers iflL al)y puts am-end to the movemcjjp. The letters explain themselves : Featherston Camp. Juno 15, 16.To J. F. Butler, Esq., $

Stratford. Dear Sir, —Your com munica tion»*re offer of a contingent of South Afrigm veterans for service was duly forwarded to the Defence Minister with an accompanying letter in support of Wm proposal from myself. I regret to say that the reply is not at all encouraging. I enclose the Minister’s reply 4jor the information of your next meeting. Anyway, there is plenty of room |or | you all in the ordinary Yours sincerely, •|l- - B. HIXKj Office of the Minister of Defoncrtj’ Wellington, 14th June, 39 Kir. Dear Sir, —I have the boner to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated sth June, covering a letter from Mr J. F. Butler, secretary South African ex-Contingenters, in which it is suggested that approval be given for the formation of a troop of South African War veterans. In reply, 1 have to inform you that it is not possible to accede to the request. I mipit also state that similar requests ha.ro been received from several other'*sections of the community, but, alter careful consideration by the Defence Authorities, they had to be declined.'’

The Defence Department is, hgjvever, most anxious to meet the wistjes of such bodies of men whenever possible. Our Expeditionary Force is 'Organised on a definite basis, which docs 'uot permit of specially raised nnitsrdu its composition. If. however, a number of South African-veterans enlist for sendee with the Reinforcements, preferably in the Infantry, and join the same reinforcement draft, they can communicate, through the proper channel to the Camp Commandant, their wishes in this respect. Steps will ibo taken to ensure that the men concerned are posted to the same Company or unit. This will enable the men referred to. to attain the object they have mi view, and I trust that it will bo satisfacory, and that it will meet with their wishes.—Yours faithfully, J. ALLEN, Minister of Defence.