VOLUNTEERING INCIDENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 78, 28 April 1909, Page 4

VOLUNTEERING INCIDENT

A WELLLXGTO.V COIU'UH u, . AKJKESTJO).

«,m h 7, jnc-t, l' lio « «» a volunteer ; "!«, the Jolnsoimlle KiUes have not ' E* B »»>H'etl,cr happy fannh, Ai « public is, „„ douut, aware,' ,on,c time ago the company was almost disintegrated over a controversy concerning the seniority of one of its subaltern olliecrs. .Now Ircsh trouble has arise-) «vcr an incident which happened at the volunteer camp at Oringi during Easter. the fads are stated to be as follow: On the evening of Easter .Sundav an ■orderly reported to Lieutenant .Merri- ■ ices, oil iter commanding the company at the camp, that a member of the corps had been taken violently ill. As that officer had just retired to bed, a subaltern officer of another company, who Happened to be visiting his teiit,'dl!ered to investigate the matter, and ascerlaint'd that the ailment was sufficiently sen--ons to warrant the man's removal to tin: held hospital. A stretcher was procured, and the sick man's comrades in I the tout were requested to furnish a bearer detachment for bis conveyance

to the hospital. They refused, and the sufferer, who was subsequently found to have been taken with severe'cramps iu the stomach, had ultimately to lie taken to the hospital by a detachment from ■another company. , The sequel happened at the lirst company parade of the corps, after its re turn to Johnsouville, when the men who had occupied Xo. 2 tent at (Irimji were severely censured by Lieut.':! » '.:•■rrilees for their conduct iu t. ■■•: lo turn out for the relief of a sick comrade.

Thereupon the non-commissioned ofl'i•ccr (a corporal), who bail lieon in charge ■of Xo, i tent, stepped forward from tlio ranks and asked to lie allowed to make- a statement. This was refused. "He then, it is stated, ripped his corporal's stripes otV and threw down his Tide. lie was arrested, and placed under =arms, so the report goes, and the others •who were under criticism have since declared their intention of resigning from ■tile corps. It is prolmlile that more will he heard ■of the incident.