SOLDIERS ON TRAINS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 13

SOLDIERS ON TRAINS

RESENT AN EXTRA CHARGE

THE DEPARTMENT'S VIEWS

There were a number of indignant soldiers on the ordinary passenger tram which left Lambton Station for Trentham at 10.35 on Monday night". The cause of the indignation was tho demand made by the guard for an extra ; Is. from each of tho men in khaki. As this was the iirst time that such a demand bad been made, an explanation was asked for, and tho soldiers were told that their return tickets, issued at Trentham at Is. each, were only available for troop trains. Most of the soldiers refused to pay, and their names were taken by the. guard. Tho trains which the new regulations affect are tho 4.45 p.m. from Trentham to Lambton and the 10.35 p.m. outwards, both of which are followed shortly afterwards by a troop train. Soldiers' ticket? are issued at the price of Is. return, stoond ciass, while officers' first-class tickets' cost 2s. The men considered that they were suffering an injustice in having to pay a total fare of 2s. for a secondclass ticket when they happen to travel in an ordinary train, while their officers can buy a first-class ticket for the same money. It may be added tliat in Trentham Camp Orders the following instruction is given: "The special Trentham to Wellington tickets are not availablo by tho mail trains from Upper Hutt. Any soldier travelling by the mail trains will have to pay tie ordinary fare." The men concerned point out that neither of the trains affected by the new order is a mail train; and in, any case tliey had had no notice. of any intention to make an extra charge. Matter Under Discussion. Tho Camp Headquarters Staff stated, in regard to the men's complaint, that they had not been told of the charge, as the matter was the subject of correspondence between the camp and the Department, tho result of which was being awaited before issuing any order. On May 29 a letter was received from the Department, statin j that on and after J una a soldiers holding first-class tickets would be allowed to travel by the 10.35 p.m. train. To this a reply was sent, on 'June 2, asking that tho matter be reconsidered, and that a maximum of 150 men holding soldiers' tickets, be allowed to travel by tho train each night. It was added in the letter that it was not desired that officers should be allowed to travel on trains from which soldiers were debarred. It was while awaiting a reply to this letter that tho new regulation was first put into effect, and, of course, tne soldiers had not been told of it. The question of officers who hold first-class tickets being allowed by the Department use the train, while soldiers could only do so by paying extra, was specially referred to, .becauso orders had been issued recently that all officers must travel by troop trains, except under special circumstances, which would be considered on tho same basis as those affect>ing a private soldier. There is an objecpem also, on the part of the camp authorities, to making the distinction as to whether a man shall travel by that train or _not a monetary one. Yesterday a letter was recoived by the Commandant, in which it was stated that the Department saw no reason, to alter the decision already made, namely, that only soldiers tokling first-class tickets would bo allowed to travel on the 10.35 p.m. train from Lambton. It was pointed out that tho passengers in the train would be a good deal inconvenienced by large numbers of soldiers using tho train: It was desirable to regulate tho traffic, and as there was a tfoop train leaving shortly sifter tho 10.35, thero would bo no hardship imposed on tho soldiers. In view .of tho receipt of this letter, the troops in Trentham will be notified to-day of the new regulation. Mr. M'Villy Explains. On the matter being referred to the Assistant-General Manager of Railways, Mr. K. W. M'Villy. he said that tho concession tickets issued to soldiers were only available ,on troop trains. .• If the men were allowed to travel on ordinary trains it was by courtesy of tho Department. Regarding tho 10.35 p.m. train from Lambton; on ivhich the extra charges had been made, Mr. M'Villy said that for a long time neither officers nor soldiers were allowed to; travel by this train. Cases of hardship, however, had occurred, as when a_soldiev and his wife, who lived at Trentham, were returning home together. The Department had therefore agreed to allow members of tho Expeditionary rorces, both officers and men, if accompanied by a lady, to travel by the 10.35 p.m. train on payment of the difference between, tho second and first-class fare. This entitled them to travel first-class. He understood that there were 17 men who were called upon to pay the extra Is. on Monday night. Of these, seven paid and ten refused to. In addition to the men who had ladies with them, sober men who perhaps were tired of tho town and .wished to get to camp early wero also allowe;l to use this train. The interests of the civiharrpussengers had to be safeguarded; the soldiers had a train of. their own to go by, and if they chose to use the ordinary passenger train they., should nay the small sum charged for the privilege, forsucb it undoubtedly was.