TROOP TRAINS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 6

TROOP TRAINS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Everybody knew last week tli®, date and place of embarkation of the Second Esnelon, and the names'of the ships. Every refreshment-room/ employee along the line knew the number of meals to be served to the troops, and the -hour and day on which the meals would be required; yet when one made enquiries at the local Railway Station, you were firmly and politely, informed that all movements of troop trains were a State secret. In a country occupied by the enemy it would, of course, be necessary to adopt drastic measures, but here in New Zealand it is not, and it is not creditable to those concerned that some sensible arrangement was not made whereby ilarents (some of them old people) of the soldiers could have been saved the misery and inconvenience of waiting at the station hour after hour to see their eons, especially during this bleak winter weather. There is no more need for such silly reticence than there was in previous wars. During the last war, next-of-kin passes were issued to the soldiers’ parents and relations and the same sensible method could easily bo, adopted now. Nu troop train'could, move so secretly about the country as to prevent enemy ■■ action. I do * not blame the local railway officials; they are always courteous and obliging I am, etc., • SOLDIER’S FATHER.