MUDDLEMENT OR INDIFFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 6

MUDDLEMENT OR INDIFFERENCE

Vert strong complaints have reached us regarding the arrangements made in connection with the departure of troopships, and more particularly in regard to the last occasion on which a vessel left this port. Whether it is muddlcment or indifference to the feelings of relatives'and friends who desire to bid God-speed to the men who are departing, for the front we cannot say—probably it is rouddlemcnt. If those in authority could only realise bow much it means to a mother or a father to see the last of their boy at tho wharfside, and perhaps give him some little gift of cakes or fruit and a last kiss or handshake, they would endeavour to handle the situation in ,a better manner. Take for instance the occasion of the last departure of a troopship. Next-of-kin tickets admitting relatives to the shipsi'de were issued freely enough—too freelv perhaps—but instead of those holding these tickets being admitted to the wharf at a reasonable hour before the boat sailed they were. allowcTl on practically at the last minute. The result was that scores of anxious fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts were to be seen struggling hopelessly by in a dense crowd, many with parcels in their hands, striving to get near the steamer for a last word or to hand over the parcel for "the boy." It is a sad enough time for these people in any case, hut when they cannot get near to the vessel before she leaves and cannot hand tho boy the parcel prepared with such long care and perhaps brought all the way from homo in some _ distant part of the Dominion, it is doubly sad and a bitter disappointment as well. It is a pathetic sight to witness the mothers and sisters of the men as they leave the-wharf with their little bundles of gifts still in their hands, and if those responsible for tho wretched management could hear the comments'on their actions they would perhaps realise how deep the resentment is. There is not the slightest necessity for all the scramble and rush that takes place at the finish. The men might with advantage be marched on board earlier in the day; the gates could be opened to. those holding next-of-kin tickets a reasonable time before the vessel sailed, and there should be a depot on the wharf handy to the steamer where parcels for individual soldiers might, in emergency, be left with confidence that they would reach those for whom they wore intended.