NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9115, 7 April 1908, Page 7

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

REQUEST FOR FREE PASSES

Per Press Association

Wellington, April 5. Delegates representing the National Defence League are to meet in Wellington this Eatser. In reference to this the Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. Hall Jones) received a deputation yesterday. Mr J. P. Firth, President of the Wellington branch, said that the object' of the League, was to help the Government in the matter of defencer Seeing the objects of the Easter gathering, it was thought the Government ought to allow the delegates free passes on the railways. The number of delegates would he about twenty. The steamship companies had granted considerable concessions. The Minister in reply said there were two Departments in the Public Service —the Post and Telegraph and Railways—which should be looked upon as commercial undertakings. They never (or seldom) heard of anyone trying to get free postage or free telegrams. If there was any country in the world where they needed to pay attention to the question of defence it was New Zealand, which was at such a great distance from the heart of the Empire, and where at any time they might he thrown upon their own resources and have to rely upon their own people to hold the position until reinforcements arrived. He was entirely with them in the great and good work that they were doing, but as to the Railway Department, concessions were now granted to members of friendly sociteies and clergymen attending their annual conferences. To do what the deputation asked would mean the framing and gazetting of a new regulation. The only alternative was to grant t free passes which, he assured them, iwas a®"privilege that he jealously guarded. In this case the League was intimately associated with the Defence Department, and his suggestion was that if any ooncesison was granted it should come as a charge on the Department with which the deputation was associated. Personally he did not feel inclined to comply with their request. However, he would refer the matter to the Cabinet.