unknown CONSCRIPTION. (STANDARD).

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 448, 1 April 1875, Page 2

unknown CONSCRIPTION. (STANDARD).

It is true that the emoluments of the soldier have been somewhat increased of late years — though very slightly — but the riae in those emoluments, whether in the shape of pay or anything elf*, has not been at the same rate as the rise in wages. The Duke said, with plain common sense, " It stands to reason that a man who can earn his guinea a week will not accept 7s or 8s f( r that is whit a soldier gets." It may be argued that a soldier gets lodgings, light, fuel, and medical attendance, but against these we must set danger, exile, and the necessary but unpleasant restraints of discipline. The duke's argument, therefore, holds good, and though he did not make any allusion to the circumstance, it is equally applicable to the officers, whose pay has not been j raised during the last three-quarters of a century, though their expenses and qualifications have been enormously increased. If, however, the country de termine to follow his Royal Highness's advice, and deal liberally with the army, we feel certain that the claims of the officers will receive as much consideration as those of the men. The Commander-in-Chief was right in saying that " we have the elements in this country of a very execellent and powerful army if we choose to pay for ii." At the same time an inquiry into the organization and admiuistration of our army ought, in justice to the taxpayers, to take place. At the* present moment our trmy is, we are convinced, organised on a most wastefully expensive system, and vast sums of .money are unnecessarily devoted to a cumbrous and ineffective administration. In short; we do not get our moneys .worth for our money. Convince the nation that the machinery of the army is sound and on an economical plan, and any necessary increase of the army estimates will meet with little opposition, for we are a commercial people, and know that ill-paid service is never good.