ABOUT THAT SCRIP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 100, 5 January 1912, Page 3

ABOUT THAT SCRIP

I WAR REMINISCENCES. (By "Fifty-one.") K Once upon a time (tin's is not a fairy t:il<\ hut hard fact) the Maoris decided to dnvc all the settlers of Taranaki into the sea, or otherwise dispose of them; but the fathers and their sons determined to resist the attempt, and took up arms in defence of their hearths and hornets. Many country homes were desolated, the occupiers having to flee to the town of New Plymouth for safety, and it being impossible to find sufficient accommodation for all them there, a large number of women and children were despatched to Nelson. Thus husbands and wives were separated. These were days of martial law, and there was no escape for those males of a certain uge from .having to obey the officer in command of the district." Men were certainly paid a trifling sum for their services, but this was not commensurate to the hardships endured. As the. war progressedl, military settlers were introduced (good men, too, a lot of them), and in addition to their pay they were promised grants of land by the Government, which they got; but no provision seemed to have been made for the local men, who got dissatisfied and raised a clamor. Eventually the Government decided to issue scrip to volunteers and militiamen who had been in active service, the amount ranging according to rank. This scrip was for the purpose of enabling the recipients to purchase land, but when tho time came and it was desired to use the scrip the Government said there was no land available, and preaching an empty exchequer they offered to repurchase the scrip at half its value. As there -was no one else who would look at the scrip in those days, the men handed it back. I believe there was a condition in the offer of repurchase that should the time arrive when land was available, the Government would recognise their liability and allow the unpaid half to go-towards the purchase of sections. The question that arises is whether the Government is not still responsible for the unpaid money, together with interest thereon from the time of the repurchase of the scrip/ Politicians of to-day view too lightly the service's rendered New Zealand as a whole by the early settlers, and especially'' those who uriderwent untold hardships during the trying period of the Maori war. It is said to be a. hard matter "to' 'take the bree'ks off a| Hielanman; but it'is equally hard to get' justice for those who served their Queen and country well' at a' time wheri men were urgen£ly : %!eedea\"