- We may add that Mr. Long ended his speech
with a long overdue and mucioneeded tribute to the National Reserve. We quote the passage in full:—
" Turning to the question of the bones to the National Reserve, he protested against the way in which the War Office had treated them. Not a single man of this force kaaliwiled to avspood to the cat. They had been doing work of the utmost importance in guarding bridges, railways, and canals. Yet tho War Office had refused to pay them the promised bonus of fa on the ground that they had not signed certain cards, the fact being that, owing to a mistake of the War 0 'thee itself, those cards were never sent out for their signature. The War Office were pouring out money in building huts in bogs and marshes—buildings which no human being out of Bedlam would try to erect without first providing muds, drainage, and water supply. They were throning money away in many directions. What right had they to make economies out of the pockets of the hard-working men of the National Reserve ? If, taking advantage of their unassailable autocracy, the War Office persisted in this injustice, they would do a great injury to the fighting forces of the country, and would bring discredit an its good name."
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