THE SOLDIERS' HOME-COMING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 12

THE SOLDIERS' HOME-COMING

9 - .RECENT COMPLAINTS AND THE MAYOR'S REPLY. Tho Prime Minister read in the House yesterday a letter from the Mayor .of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) referring to the alleged shortage of motor-cars to carry -tho wounded men from the s.s. Mararoa.to the Town Hall on Tuesday. Air. Luke's letter was as follows ferring to the complaint made in the House yesterday in respect to a number of tho men who returned by the Mararoa being allowed to walk from tho ship to the Town Hall, instead of being conveyed thereto by motor-ears or other vehicles, and to which you replied that understood tho matter was in tho hands of tho municipal authorities, I desire to inform you that in making my usual inquiries regarding tho arrival of the men, I ascertained from tho Defonco Department that they were arranging for their: Motor Service Corps 'to deal with the■conveyance of the men to the Town Hall. On previous occasions private citizens havo assisted in this work, and tho Wellington Automobile Club lias also rendered valuable -aid in this respect, • and these wero both represented at the wharf. Although qnito satisfied that tho Defence Department would mako full arrangements necessary for the welfare of the men, tho Town Clerk, at my request, was in attendance at tho wharf, and was authorised to provide any additional cars that- appeared to' be necessary. He informs ma that upon arrival he saw that the position was well in hand by tho Defence authorities, and everything appeared to bo carried out in duo order ana without hitch or delay, aud a full line of vehicles was apparently under their control. Seeing a number of 'men lined up on the wharf, lie inquired from tho othcer in command whether it was intended to march the men that were ablo to walk to the hall, and being ; :informed in.tho affirmative, left the wharf to advise me as to tho probable time of their arrival at tho Town Hall.

I certainly think that in- future it would be desirable for all ithe men to be brought' to the Town Hall in vehicles, and have no doubt that citizens will gladly help me in this direction." "It seems," said Mr.' Massey, "that thero has been some mistake or misapprehension with regard to this matter, and I wish to say that I regret that wounded and incapacitated men were compelled to march from tho wharf to the Town Hall. I don't think anything of the sort will occur again. In case it might seam that I cast a reflection yesterday upon His Worship tho Maj'or . of AVellington, I should just like to say that there are not two people in New Zealand w'ho have worked harcfer or more enthusiastically in the interests of. our soldiers, and especially of those soldier 3 returning from the war, than the Mayor of Wellington.'laid Mrs. Luke. (Hear, hear.) I think it is only justice that I. should say this."