THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1902. THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 178, 15 March 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1902. THE TENTH CONTINGENT.

To the Minister of Defence for New Zealand, the Eight Hon. R. J. Seddon, the news of a few British soldiers being captured at once suggests that the war is not being properly pushed on, the reason being a scarcity of New Zealanders at the front, and such news almost invariably bears fruit in the offer of another contingent. Of such is the latest proposal, that to send a Tenth Contingent 1 ' from these shores. The Premier had previously mooted the question ( of bringing the number up to this figure, but afterwards declared u that it was not necessary. However, the accident of Lord Methnen's capture has again'instilled him with his pet notion, and . he is going to "consult" Members of Parliament as to the advisability of sending the'Tenth. i If the Minister of Defence has [j taken the idea it is sure to be acted upon, and the contingent I will likely be enrolled forthwith, with nearly all the members of Parliament asserting themselves : heartily in favour of the idea. Personally we advocated, aid still , advocate, that if the need exists , every able-bodied man willing should go to the front, but we certainly do not think 'the need f exists at present. In the absence e of more definite information, !, which may never reach the public , from official sources, it is not s possible to say in what manner the capture occurred, but reading the meagre cable news would lead one to suppose that there were no scouts thrown out that the columti marched through an enemy's country without taking the slightest precaution. There were evidently plenty men, but they were with the mules and ox- ' waggons instead of in their proper ; places on the flank and in the 1 advance and rearguard. 'Such a • proceeding was simply courting disaster, and to urge that more men would coversuch an egregious blunder on the part of a general is rank nonsense. In our opinion this feverish desire to send away more men from the colony without any request from the War . Office is totally unwarranted. New Zealand has sent her quota ■ and it should be left to other and larger states to fill any except pressing wants. Besides,, there . d&£ plenty of men loyal and ~* 'ready in Cape Colony and in the 1 late Republics, apart from the • thousands of equally capable men 1 from the Homeland, who would • be glad to serve at half the rate of pay offered the colonials. We cannot go on fqr ever making the world believe that Great Britain could not send the men ! if the inducements were offered. There is another aspect of the affair, and one too that is seldom heard, save from those who have served with the colours: That the Defence Department has conducted the whole business in an unnecessarily lavish manner. 3ach contingent was sent; out to serve "a year, or till the termination of the war." Gradually it became an'understood thing that when the year was up they would be recalled and a fresh draft sent out. Any man invalided home were not'allowed to return, but given a certain furlough and then paid off: when the next contingent went they returned to South Africa, with scores of oren who had simply returned with ; service expired. It may be said I that these men were.., tired of servise and desired to go home. is true in many cases, but somo desired to stay, and the grumblers and home - sick as likely as not, were the first to volunteer on returning to New Zed.md. Had the procedure of other corps been followed and the men disbanded for two months on full jay, t ih o> day of re-enlistment "would'We S een 1

ninety per predentin? themselves, all'fresh an ! lit and easier for the iront. Everyman would be seasoned anil trains 1. Instead of that, seasoned troops, from which the weakest lv\v- be.m thinned, are sent b 1.3 kto b? replaced by raw levies who have to undergo the thinning and seasoning process before b?ing of much use. By this time they are in their turn sent home, and the process goes on ad nauseam. If the Minister for Defence really wished to assist in closing the war he would have some such process adopted. It is a great trial, of course, for parents to part with their sons, but under the plan we have outlined, the agony would not so long drawn out as it is at present. We would strongly urge the Minister of Defence to change his methods of dealing with tn.> troops now at the front instead of sending more. There should bj no diiileuity with the men ; if they are able to stay away for a year they are able to stay for two, and our patriotism would be of infinitely more practical worth even than it is at present. If the men are really inspired by patriotic motives they will see the points iu favour of such a course—if they are not, they are better athome.