FREE TRAM RIDES FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2708, 1 March 1916, Page 7

FREE TRAM RIDES FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Sir, —May I, on behalf of the returned soldiers, acknowledge with thanks the concession granted to "returned soldiers under medical treatment," and at the same time say that I am astounded at the attitude of- the Major and council in this matter. Does Wellington patriotism start with taking advantage of the business accru-. ing through the thousands of men in training at Trentham; then, holding paper streamers at the side of the transports—which break easily—and end with gushing speeches at the Town. Hall? Might I reply to the reasons given for refusing free passes for all "undischarged" returned soldiers belonging to Wellington? Tho loss of revenue: What loss would there be' in carrying an average of about 200 men free? As regards overcrowding: They are riding on the cars -at present—but they are paying. ' The Mayor states they have too few cars to cops with the growing traffic. What about the thousands of Irentham men who use the cars and "pay? Do' they inconvenience the public? Is the proximity of Trentham a. nuisance? If bo. let the business people ask for the removal of the camp. Ask the publio if it is inconvenienced by the returned men riding on the cars? I know what the answer of the publio would be: Let the able-bodied men without badges walk. Let the prosperous .Wellinstonian who is being fought for, also walk. The women of Wellington, I am quite sure, will give up their seats to the invalided man who has done his recovering from pneumonia and enteric — men with one leg—they are not to ride free, because they are not being medically treated. It is better for them to hang about the town (and spend their munificent wages in bars and shops) than to go out to Ljall Bay or the suburbs to see their friends, and gradually regain their health after doing their duty, to their country. They would all be. heroes if they had been killed. They . had no.right to returu and inconvenience the people of AVellington (according to the council). Dunedin' and Christchurch grant free, rides —they derive 110 benefit from Trenthain. Why cannot Wellington do likowise?—l am, , etc., DONALD fjIMSON, Captain.