LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2892, 3 October 1916, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OUR TROOPS AT FREMANTLE A TRANSPORT INCIDENT. Sir,—Enclosed I send you a. cutting Jfbm tlie paper "West Australian," to show you how tho public, as well as our boys of the Sixteenth Reinforcements, have been fooled by the military authorities. It gives one an impression that someone was tryiug to make something out of the boys, or else riding a. high horse. Perhaps, Mr. Editor, you may be able to get a statement from tre right quarter, and oblige.—l am, etc., A COMRADE. [Enclosure.] NEW ZEALAND TROOPS. AN ABANDONED PARADE; PAYMENT .OF TRANSPORT CHARGES OBJECTED TO. The announcement in yesterday's "West Australian" that (.ho Sixteenth Reinforcements of tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces, at present at L'reinantle, would parade the streets of the city during the afternoon, attracted crowds of considerable dimensions to tlie main thoroughfares. Many business people,'also, decorated their premises witli bunting, to do honour to the troops of tho sister Dominion, and when it was learned that the parade would not take place, owing to a hitch iii the arrangements for the transport of the troops from Fretnantle, disappointment was naturally widespread.

Among the New Zealand soldiers it was stated that'tlie reason for the abandonment of tho parade nvas the action of the authorities in requiring payment of their fares from the transport to the shore and from the shore to the city. If they camo asliore they were compelled to take part in the parade; if they would not take part in the parade, they were to be confined to tlie ship. Tlie parade was of a semi-compulsory character, inasmuch as they were not allowed on shore unless they participated in it; yet if they came shore they had to pay:their own. fares. Tlie men incidentally alleged that while on picket duty they had to pay for their own- meals, and seemed to be suffering under a strong sense of grievance by reason of the facts above alleged. Inquiry at Fremantle elicited the facts that tho authorities in chargo of the troops. In arranging for the pa- , rado, provided that each man should contribute Is. to cover the cost of transport. Tlie hicn on one vessel agreed to malte'i tho payment, and were paraded on deck for disembarkation. On tlip other boat, however, the men refused, to make the payment, witli tho result that the arrangements for the parade were abandoned. The men were refused leave, but as the result of • a brief cessation of work by the lumpers they wore granted leave later in the afternoon, the previous order being withdrawn. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER OF WEST AUSTRALIA. TRIBUTE TO VISITORS' BE- . SAVIOUR, In a statement yesterday to one of our representatives, tho Premier (Mr. F. Wilson) said:—"According to rumour, the reported march through the city of the visiting soldiers had to be abandoned becauso they could not obtain freo carriago by train to Perth. Thero is 110 trutn in tlie rumour. No application was made ' to" the . State Government in this direction. A special quote,-'however, was sought, at tho hands of tho Commissioner, and was given. This was considered reasonable. I have caused inquiries to be made into tha matter, and have ascertained' that the cost of transporting the soldiers from and to their vessels, plus the special quote by tho Railway Department, constituted the TeaRon for abandoning the parade. . The question of freo railway transport was never raised, That, of course, was a question for tho Government to deal with, had it been raised. All that was sought at tho hands of the Commissioner was a quote, which he gave, and which was considered satisfactory. Had representations been made to tlie Government, and ' the object been pointed out, I would, as head of tho Government, lave been only too pleased t-o afford thp_ men free transport to and from tlie city." "In passing, I should like to pay a tribute to tlie excellent behaviour and general bearing of these men while hero. I had an opportunity, when in Albany some time back, to nets the New Zealand soldiers who were then in port, and thoir behaviour also was exemplary. • Indeed, these remarks can apply generally to tho New Zealand men who have visited these parts." CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Tho people of Perth are disappointed to-day bccauss the New Zealand troops did not march through the ■city, as had been arranged. May I state the reason? A shilling a man was demanded for railway faro to Perth by tlie oflicor in charge of tho Reinforcements. "Wo wero also to' go to Perth, march through the city, and return straight on board (without, any leave) by the 3.50 train. I hopo it will be fully understood that wo attach \o blame whatsoever to the authorities ofPcrtli: those wo blame are our . own New Zealand authorities. - Wo wisli to thank tho people of Frcmantle and Perth for tho right royal reception wo liavo received in this place.—Yours, A NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER, Fremantle, September 4. [The Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, stated to a Dominion reporter last night that he had heard nothing of the occurrence.related in the letter,]