ROYAL FOLLIES. Criticism of the Methods of the British Government.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 2

ROYAL FOLLIES. Criticism of the Methods of the British Government.

The Duke of Connaught, it is admitted, is no warrior. He holds a sinecure office and one of the most conspicuous positions in the Indian army. Sir John Swinburn, during the discussion of the Loavo Bill, pointed out the risk and danger to the State of intrusting important commands to incompetent relatives of her Majesty, and Sir John managed to bring out the fact that the Duke of Cambridge had been appointed to the great office of commander-in-chief of the imperial army, although he had never served as ensign, lieutenant captain, major, lieutenant or commander in the army and the elementary grades. Further, Sir John 1 showed that while the entire cost of the army and navy is £31,000,000, one-sixth of this sum is spent in half pay pensions and retirement allowances. The real working officers are thus given no chance of promotion, owing to the higher appointments being monopolised by tho relatives of royalty and the privileged part of the community. Labouchere, in his characteristic vein > denounced the proposed expenditure of £17,000 upon the Westminster Abbey services. He wanted to make it £2,000. Laboucheve'tf description of tho conversion of the abbey into a race-course stand under the management of some West End upholsterer caused much amusement, but the House was le«s amused when O'Connor remarked that the people were asked for £17,000 while men wero dying of starvation in tho neighbourhood of the abbey.