WOUNDED SOLDIERS AND THE RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1430, 29 July 1915, Page 3

WOUNDED SOLDIERS AND THE RAILWAYS.

FALSE REPORT CLEARED

The. fact that four invalided soldiers were charged by a railway guard 'id each because they had technically got on to a train without a ticket has been distorted into the report that onr wounded soldiers were being asked to pay their own fares to their homes. This report was being assiduously spread by certain individuals in this district. The rumour was reported to Mr W, H. Field, M.P., who communicated with the Minister of Railways, and has received the following reply,: ‘ Sir.—With reference to your letter of the 20th instant respecting the conveyance of invalided troopers by rail bom Wellington to Auckland, I have the honour to inform you that there is no foundation whatever for the statement that invalided troopers were compelled to pay their fares for the journey from Wellington to Auckland. As a matter of fact the men were granted orders for tickets by the Defence Department, and that Department has accordingly been debited with the value of the fares. I understand that four men joined the train without exchanging their orders for the usual railway tickets, and were requested by the guard to pay fid each, which represents the fine usually inflicted on passengers who join the train at a booking station without first obtaining a ticket. It was not, of course, intended to enforce this regulation in the. case of the returned troopers.”