The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1902. THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 71, 17 March 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1902. THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

After consulting with the representatives of the people, the Government has decided to send a Tenth Contingent to South Africa to replace the Sixth, which is about returning home. The Tenth Contingent is to consist of 1000 men, and is to be ready for sea io about thro a weeks' time. While the necessity for another contingent is to be regretted, we believe the flight Hon. tbe Premier expresses the feeling of the whole of the people of New Zealand when he says if it would end the war the colony would rather send 5000 men right oil than see the war dragging on in the way it has been doiog. In connection with this question of mobilising the Teeth Contingent, is there any reason why one of the wings of the battalion, if not the whole of it, should not be mobilised at N»w Plymouth? In proportion to population, Taranaki has offered the services of more men than any other part of it, and if the rank and number of officers now serving is anything to go by, Taranaki holds a very conspicuous position. We would suggest that 250 men of the North Island Battalion be mobilised at New Plymouth and 250 at Napier. This course was adopted as regards Wanganui in a former contingent, and we have never heard if the contingent suffered in ar.y way by such a plan being followed ; indeed, the officers and men of the Wanganui camp have distinguished themselves on more than one occasion. New Plymouth would be a most convenient centre at which to collect both men and horses, and preseats no difficulty in the matter of embarkation to Auc's- > land, or entraining them to Wellington as the case may be, according to which is chosen as the final port of departure. Several excellent sites for a camp are available, and more suitable and capable officers than Colonel Ellis, and Captain and Adjutant Taunton would • be hard to find. The latter is an excellent drill master, and could be depended on to lick recruits into shape as quickly as anyone. He has on savers 1 occasions offered his services, and has doue a lot of valuable service in tho selection of ihe Taranaki quoti of previous contingents, and we should like to see his services recognised by his receiving a. command in the Tenth ConOontingent. We venture to say that if Colonel Ellis was allowed to raise, equip, and hand over 250 men from Taranaki and Wanganui, they would prove as serviceable as any corps in South Africa. We hope steps will ba taken to make such representations to the Government as will lead to effect being given to the views we have expressed.