THE TAHITI'S DELAY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2570, 18 September 1915, Page 3

THE TAHITI'S DELAY.

Sir,—At the present time the poor wounded soldiers are being caused great delay and inconvenience by the action or. this steamer's firemen and,the refusal to sign on. Now, sir, this steamer is under .control of the. military authorities, so why not take forty or fifty men from Trentham Camp and let them work the ship to Port Chalmers, or whatever port is to-be reached? There are many good firemen who havp enlisted, and at the present time there may be; enough at Trentham to work' the ship to her southern port, or if not enough firemen there are surely enough loyal men to work in tho stokehold under the guidance of as many firemen as would care to. volunteer for . the job. The delay caused to this ship is an indirect help to tho Germans, and as such ought to be charged against the firemen-who are causing tho delay. The military authorities take complete charge of steamers, and also the wharf, when the occasion needs it, so why not put their own. men in _ the ship in order to get -her away quickly ? The ship will soon be wanted to take more troops away to Egypt, so that each day's delay means a big loss to Now Zealand'. The Union Company do not lose anything great by the ship's delay, but the Dominion of New Zealand does, and must pay out when tho bill is presented. I hope the suggestion that I have sent will be acted upon, and also that those responsible for the delay may have it brought home to them in some befitting manner. How would these firemen be treated in Germany if they acted in this manner?._ They would not even be given the choice of a day's time to consider matters. The order would be, "AVork the ship or be'shot.'' Hoping that this suggestion will bo acted upon. —I am, etc., W.M.