THE TERRITORIALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 15 March 1913, Page 5

THE TERRITORIALS.

RESULT OF THE INQUIRY. ' FINES OF STRIKERS REMITTED. Brigadi »r •Oommander! Colonel R. W. Tate last night conveyed to tlic JI aster ton Territorials the decision of i!u> Officer Commanding (Colonel E. Vv» 0. Chaytor) in re-speck to the inni'.iry recently bold in "Jasterton. Colonel Tate addressed tlie nun at tho elose of their para-do. He wii 1 lie had heoii instructed hy the Office" Commanding to state that, ab'iough tho offence committed by nineteen < f tho men in marching off pa"a:le in November last was a- serious one. i:had evidently been committed in ignorance. There appeared also, to be other influences at work. The men. were apparently not aware that the:": was a channel available through which they could obtain redress if they hr:i a substantial grievance. i Colonel Chaytcr had decided, in v'o.w of all the circumstances, to remit the fine of ;£] that Ikh] hoop. imposed upon the strikers in the orderly room, hut to allow their conviction to <stand. Colonel Tate told the men that their conduct had been tantamount to mutiny. Tf they had been convicted of such conduct, while on active sendee, they would 'have been shot. The offence was also a serious one during the time of peace. A section of the men had got an idea into their head that tlie remedy for all grievances was the strike. Tins form of securing redress could not be- nei'mittod in tho military forces. Tf the men had a grievance, frhev could make -a 00111nlaint to tho Captain. Tf they were then not satisfied tliev could go to the Commandant, of the Battalion. They coiild, if still dissatisfied, <ro to th& Brigade Commander, and from him to the General Officer Commanding. Colonel Tats informed the Company .that at oflie t'me it wa« regarded as one of the best in the Dominion. He hoped that tlie men would strive to regain this- reputation. There were other, matters !ii eotuiootiotl with the- inquiry which, h-e «i'd, had been dealt with bv Colonel Chaytor himself.