HOW THE MONEY GOES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 212, 22 February 1872, Page 7

HOW THE MONEY GOES.

The " Thames Guardian " contains some plain speaking regarding the immense staff of military hangers-on who are now sucking the life-blood out of the colony. Tt says : — The public at large have no idea whatever of " how we are governed." If they had the faintest conception of the truth, we are convinced they would at once rebel against the huge imposture known as the New Zealand Government. The number of colouels, majors, and captains to be met with at every street corner, billiard-room, hotel, club, and public office ia Wellington during the session, and we suppose still more so during ihe recess (when obtrusive members are absent), passes belief. A staid civilian would imagine that the colony contained nothing but soldiers, else these sons of Mara could have no possible occupation in the martial line. Butsomehow, they do mysteriously find employment, and receive high salaries, and look upon the plodding colonists who butter their bread, as a very vulgar set of creatures indeed. These gallant fellows are to be found acting as committee clerks when not otherwise attached to the public service, and of course look forward to regular employment through friends at head quarters. Bad as this may be, however, it is not worse that the state of things which exists in the regular army, for that New Zealand maintains a large standing army on paper is beyond a doubt. In one place we fiud a not over-wise ex-subaltern of cavalry dubbed a lieutenant-colonel, and entrusted with the command of the infantry, volunteers and militia of the district. This gentleman is a large figure at a review. He is utterly unfitted for the command entrusted to him, but as military loafers are objects of paternal solicitude by the Government, he receives a salary at double the rate of pry allowed by the Imperial Government for the colonel of an infantry regiment. Elsewhere throughout the colony may be seen majors commanding districts, who have " won their spurs " through political intrigue or undisguised toadying to the " powers that be," but who are innocent of their duties, and could no more take command of a battalion on parade than they could fly without wings. These home-made soldiers are also highly paid, their work being performed by the sergeant-instructors provided by the Government to compensate in some measure for the incompetence of the commanding officers.