A REASONABLE REQUEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 6

A REASONABLE REQUEST

The suggestion that tfoopers who have obtained leave to visit their homes in order to say good-bye to their relatives and friends before proceeding to the front should be allowed to travel at reduced railway fares deserves sympathetic consideration. In yesterday's issue we published two. letters from members of the Expeditionary Force now undergoing training at Trentham, giving reasons why this concession should be granted, and there can be no doubt that a good case has been made out in favour of the proposal. These men have given up their- ordinary means of livelihood in order to. serve the Empire in the supreme crisis of its history, and they are entitled to generous treatment. The request is not at all unreasonable. It is not surprising that the troopi.ers should feel that it is a hardship to have to pay the full railway faro to their homes and back if they wish to gratify the very natural desire to say farewell to their relatives before they leave New Zealand. It is to be hoped that the Government will give the matter early and favourable attention. The granting of a substantial concession would certainly meet with the hearty approval of the general public, and would be much appreciated by the men who, in response to the Empire's call, are now preparing themselves to fight for their King and country.