The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1901. OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 34, 12 February 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1901. OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

In connection with the visit of the Imperial troops to Wellington and Warjganui, and the conveyance of our citizen soldiers there has been rome sad muddling on the part of the officials charged with carrying out the datails, which merits the strictest enquiry and! censure. To begin with the veterans, it will be remembered that the Mayor wired the Hon. J. G. Ward asking for low fares for these of the public wishing to visit Wanganui, and a free trip for the veterans. On Sunday afternoon the statienmaster was instructed to pass medalists fre9, and requested to jgaake the matter as public as possible. JSsing a comparative stranger in Ne 7 * Plymouth and unacquainted with the usual methods ef reaching the public, very few get to know and only fifteen availed themselves of the opportunity. The carriage accommodation was aleo quite insufficient and all along the line numbers had to be refused admission to the train. Then in the case of the volunte»ra who left on Friday at midday instead of being run quickly down to Wellington they were taken all r,o,Ws bjr the Wairarapa, and <fid not reach Wellington till past 8 o'clock on Saturday, On tjb.e r ( oufce no provision was made for feeding the, men, neither were the men told, as] they should hare been, to take a day's ratioaa with them. The espsequenea was that wherever there was a refreshment room there was a rash and scramble for a chance of getting somethfr? to eat and drink on the pait o f hundred's ?£ hungry and thiraty men. Nothing would* h*Y9 boon easier than for .proper provision tohii v ß ]?e?n made at certain st&jfcionflforeertain compafi?eS) so that there neqd have fre»# no rush ortiouble. The menjjjwould wi'lingly have paid for this, bat jfc must be ad-, mitted that to expect some 800 starv-' ing m*n to go to W*llington without food wan most unfair. Again, on arriving at Wellington, iosfeid of taking the men t» Te Aro station they ware landed at the main s'ation and marobed Eearly 4 miles to Newtown, where they were encamped. On arrival thero no breakfast was supplied, but they were told they could get some bread and butter. Later on dinner wa* supplied and was a fairly gitisfactoiy mfal. They were then marched neatly 4 miles back to the wharf, atid after taking part in the proceedings of the afternoon marched back to camp and tea, Sunday morning broke wo l , and, after same d'liay, an order was issued that the chuich parade whs abmdoned, and instead of the men being given leave so that those who wished could go to their own churct.ee or visit friends, all leave was suspended and everybody kepS in camp till afternoon. Then a short letve till 4 o'clock was granted, then tea, and at 6 o'ekek tho men were entrained for home on all sidas. Wo hear that the misery of that journey was vety great. Instead of the Taranaki men, who had the furthest to go, being placed in through their caariage was several times cut off, and the men who were tiyirgto sliep, were ordered out on to cold, cheerless platforms, and told to get into rairiages already too full. Numbers of the men, after gathering up riflt'f, blankotd, topcoats, beHs, water-boitles, haversacks, etc., had to stand on tho platforms in tho cold of the early morning for a dlstsnpo of 50 or 60 milts, till room was made in the larriaaes by troops getting out at way jSids- stations. Wanganni was cot reached till §.30 a.m., and here agiin I no breakfast wes prodded, the met. [having to go wherever they could to | set something to eat At 8 o'clock thoy were again entrained for Ne'v Plymouth, which was not reached till 6 pm., making 24 hours over a journey ought to have been done in 12. It is zcost unfair tbat men who give the time our volunteers do, should have ■ to put up wis BU.oh triatment;' They ;

>a e nil infcii of retipectablo la id iiieiv is no revoa why, when any liiiiiitiiry funclion is to lw held, the p-Mrik and fiie of our voluuteeis should lb.- 'l'tat'd as if they bad i.o human |f'."iiing. We hijj.n in this oai : e the | Mir.i-tar for Defence will ho'd a saarcb\ht,< enquiry, and find sut wh<i is ><*■ IsHiosnsiblo for the hluMsioi'iaa; tm<l it;, hiidity of tbo kst few riay^.