A RUMOR DENIED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 3, 22 May 1914, Page 5

A RUMOR DENIED.

BY GENERAL HAMILTOIT. v

CONCERNING THE DEFENOBU SCH£4IE. , , A statement recently appeared In 4ht : Napier press to the effect ithat it authoritatively reported that General s Hamilton would unreservedly condemn J the Territorial defenco scheme oh the. .' following grounds:—Expense, conaWer-> ing the benefits derived from the Bohem* t not being commensurate with .the giWk . annual expenditure involved; contra), •Wing to the difficulty of control 'tor fondling men not previously under" discipline, and fear of the scheme abep- J hrtely breaking down by its own "i weight. The statement in question «ofc«ss tinued: "Ruimor in high official quarters ~; 1m it that General Hamilton has beet ;',' aeked to report as above by the Goretfcment because it is believed that 4b« country cannot long stand the hevrr financial strain which-the Tcrritoriu ,- scheme involves, the Government eonee-/ quently being anxious to find an easy "' way. out of the difficult position wh£& > they find themselves in." , '•• A Daily News representative who ia- ; -fcerviewed General Hamilton on the point . yesterday received an unqualified denial "' ol any foundation for the rumor, as fer ' as he was concerned. "My report," as . «"<*, "is known to liw on« yet, and is ' between myself and the Government. _, That is a very old game, and there J» > no foundation at all for the rumor, m - I "have neve* disclosed the probable '' nature of my report to anyone. Rot until I have my foot on the gang-plaijfc .' o! the boat which takes me away," *e : jocularly concluded, "will I divulg* eke > syllable of my report on tho deftfe* ■" system of New Zealand." '