LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 116, 10 February 1919, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE RIVERINA'S PASSENGERS Sir,—As ;i relative of,one of the ladies and children who are among Hie passengers so unceremoniously bundled off tho Rivcrina on Saturday night, will you kindly allow me to say that some explanation is due from the Wellington polico for what appears to mo to be-an act of gross- discourtesy ? The police came on board at 8.45 p.m., about four hours after tho advertised sailing time, and all passengers, including the ohildren, wefif ordered to go, ashore. Ladles who were undressed in their bunks had to get up and dross again, and tho only information vouchsafed was that their permits had to be examined. For fifty minutes the passengers, mostly Indies, were kept standing in a ma=3 on the wliarf, and then the police officials commenced the permit examinations. I asked for permission to pllot ray little boy. aged 8, to remain on board, but was curtly refuvd, although I noticed several ladies stayed on board, but perhaps they may have been assisting the nolice. The exercise of a littlo (art and foresight could have savpd all the bother, which was very unsetting to women and children, travelling without their husbands. I would surest to your noliee officials that tho n»xt time they eet a suspicion they should p.end a couple of plnin-c'othes men down a few hours before* the steamer's depnrture in order to avoid a repetition of Saturday night's incident.—l am, etc., • . . - L. W. FOWLER. Hastings!. .