LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

REQUISITION OF TOE BUAHINE Sir,—The Imperial authorities had not the grace to inform line of the purpose for which they required my family's accommodation in tlie repatriation of soldiers from Mesopotamia, as 1 now learn from the Acting-Premier's note to my letter in your issue of January 2S. I fear my campaigning days are over, as it is manifestly u lisudvantage to be a plain civilian these days. Personally, I can assure you we have no desire to stand in the way of soldiers returning, init we have also no desire to sit for an indefinite period on the kerbstones of Lambtoii Quay. The Acting-Premier's explanation does not in my opinion alter the principle involved in the business. If the seizure is actually a military necessity, why not pay for it? Indeed, it would be interesting to learn upon what we have all for four years past been cheerfully spending seven millions a day except such miliI tary necessities. If I may say so, Sir James Allen would, in the interests of the stranded passengers, have lost no prestige had he done something like this: Cable to the Shipping Controller advising him that tho several Ships are due, to sail next month via Panama, San Francisco, and Vancouver. He couW have suggested the transfer of tho passengers to one or other of thesa steamers, and mildly hinted that tho Home people should foot the difference in the bill, and then all would be well. Some of these Home authorities are so childlike nnd bland that they may easily imagine a journey Homo from these fair'isles to be Mttle more than a trip to Day's Bay. The incident is not intended, to draw any special notice from the reading public, but a consideration of the financial aspect has a painful interest to (hose immediately aifected. To land my family in England at present rates and conditions would probably involve an addition of .£IOO to .CSOO-a more trifle, of course. Our lot would be a far happier .one if wo could have contemplated the i fact that the Imperial authorities had commandeered all .ships and all classes : in ships trading to New Zealand—that, -.however, is not the case. I close the correspondence, with i (hanks for your able assisimica.—l am, i etc., H. GRIERSON. P.S.—The New Zealand Shipping Company have expressed their regret to my party for havipg turned us out, and I can quite understand can do nothing further. But in view of the statement by the Acting-Premier that the Ruahine iias been requisitioned for carrying troops 'Homo from Mesopotamia, it would, I : think,_ be fair to ,ask the company to' ■print in the.newspapers the usual list of passengers leaving on February li. This cannot entail a great deal of work, as, :of course, it will 'bo nil.—H.G.