GETTING IT BACK.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15087, 2 June 1919, Page 3

GETTING IT BACK.

In these days of greater or less peace' when thousands of men are throwing aside their .uniforms • and hastening: back to civilian life, signs are not wanv j ing- that military stars are losing, their i lustre, and some are even in danger of; falling from their high places in the 'firmament. It does not follow that he-. cause men submitted quietly to ail ttie inconveniences incidental to the military system under the dire stress of war they are going to continue to Co so now-that tiie strain is removed, in fact, it is clear that some will not. An amusing demonstration of the returning spirit of civilian independence was given in a local military office the ocner day (says the "Otago Daily Times"). Ac cording to the usual custom a considerable 'number of men had been summoned regardless'of the waste of their time involved to appear at the same L.our _ before a. board. One by one at long intervals the men were .called upon, un&ii the patience of one of ...e waiting ones was thoroughly exhausted. He ytrolled forward to the table and demanded to know where this Loard was that he had been summoned to appear oei'cre an hour previously. He proceeded to explain with some emphasis that he had left his work in a distant country district, suddenly to attend tnn> board, and that he was gohig back thin, 'Gay, too. The sergeant-m'fijor acldrd'ss?cl -naturally resented sue-.'; ."f^rfcive- ;, but he was only met with further doninnd^ to know why only one day's notice! uf the-board's'sitting had boon , ; ;;i'.r !T:. Commands to get h;\ck In. \n< si:;^ i:\vl wait his turn won.; quito uft-';c-odcd by the indignant i-'uitr- m;\i:< v/ho dov/ began to inquire v.ho it'was'-' tiiai' jsent out the offending notice. A 'siM-geairi:-major present, was brave—os--iiicauturas —enough to claim rpsocmpi'iil:J;v» v^.^'eupon the couiitfYnin:) ljix'ceaded with soldierly ornameirfcntionto give mm ," a Piece of his mind" The'ser-;ic;snt-!»ajor rose to push t!>e man'bac!? ""• '"'•■ plnce, v/hen he wns> mot with several rapid and most a^W :■'■'.-'• ti.1.11-found their in?:■]•:" o bout his ■'■yyer, and' nose. Fora. .few memonts ■•nniV^on reigned, and it is wh^pore:! Timo■ several highly placed officers executed strategic movements io the rear - Jhon -an officer who had stood nis ■ grcunc! called/on members of -.the staff to arrest the disturber of the peace; tmt the response was most disappointing fso one.seemed disposed to argue the } matter further, and the country visitor

having effectively registered his protest picked up his hat and moved off to catch ' his train, leaving the Scandalised stall jto busy themselves over the formula--1 tion of charges in due order. It is said , that the face of the sergoant-ma\ur ■ chiefly concerned will form invaluaole evidence at the trial, even if that shouH be delayed for some time.