LIFE OR LUXURY.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 April 1918, Page 4

LIFE OR LUXURY.

The replies made by Sir Joseph Ward Postmaster General, to questions in connection with the delay of soldiers’ cables are anything but satisfying and reassuring. Complaints in number' have been made to this Journal respecting what must be deemed to be unpardonable and indefensible delays. Letters written in France and England after cables were lodged for despatch have been delivered in New Zealand days and even weeks before cables came to hand. The matter was brought up in the House by Mr. Me Galium and Sir Joseph Ward told the questioner that the difficulty arose from the overloading of the cables owing to the war, and twelve thousand messages had been held up in one office. Mr. Parr said the Company should not take the money, to which Sir Joseph Ward replied, "they had taken no money. ’ ’ Of course, it is obvious that this reply could only originate with the cable company, but -what most concerns the parents and friends of soldiers is • not its origin, but its truth. Some of the complaints coming under our notice are that money is taken for cables that do not reach their destination in the time that a letter does. We are strongly of opinion that the Post-master-General has not been fairly treated by the cable people, as it is scarcely Conceivable that he would deliberately misrepresent facts under such stressful circumstances. It was elicited that the cheaper telegrams from soldiers were laid aside for the better paid business messages. The blood of New Zealand’s sons is nothing in- the , sight and estimation of the cable company compared ■with business. Cables for luxuries, and cables about the shipment of luxuries take precedence of cables regarding the life and health of our soldiers. Life anc death of our men matter not but luxury and finery, motor cars and whisky, are all" important. We no longer pourtray supreme, superlative importance by saying it is a matter of "life and death,” we have changed it to "it is a case of motor-ears and whisky.” Our life and death cables are laid aside till .they accumulate to tens of thousands, but the motor car ! and luxury messages are not delayed a minute. Sir Joseph Ward is afraid that cheap soldier cables will have to be stopped so as to leave wires clear for luxuries and the wishy-washy stale misleading stuff that is cabled to newspapers as news. The sons, husbands and fathers of our people are to go into utter darkness when they leave these shores while constant touch is kept with the sources of motor-cars whisky and finery. There can be no question about New Zealanders being a long-suffering people but revolt against such conditions is certain to come. Letters are being stolen; Members of Parliament even, brandished envelopes from other Members of Parliament serving at the front, from which the contents had been filched. It is not only the cable company that is blamcable, but our postal system has been impeached and shown to be unreliable. It is argued that all irregularities occur outside of New Zealand, but that is a question that will be dealt with in a separate article, wo are now concerned with, the soldiers ’ cable question and it is hoped that Members of Parliament will not allow the life and death interests of our soldiers to be laid aside for any business considerations, more- especially those of luxury.