NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 7

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

~ ; FREE PASSES WANTED. A deputation from, tlio National Defenca Lcaguo waited upon tlio Mimstei' for ■ Railways (Lion. W. Hall-Jones) on Saturday, witli, referolico to tlio question of railway concessions to delegates of the' League, who were to nieet in conference, at Wellington oil Easter Tuesday. .'V -Mr. J. P. Firth; headmaster of Wollington w. College, was spokesman. While deprecating tlio tendency of somo to appeal to the Go- : vehiniont for help on every_ occasion, ho • ' urged'that, the Lcaguo, from its natureand ■ objects, had a reasonable ground for its re- - ,: v> quest;for free passes, for .tho delegates at- : . tending the conference. The steamship cons- , panics had granted Concessions.

Tho Minister, in reply, stated that both'.' tho Railway Department and tho Post and: Telegraph Department should bo looked upou , as commercial concerns; Tlio Government was ondeavouring to inako each Department < bear tho cost of its own administration. Tho League, he recognised, was doing cootl work, and in a country like New Zealand the question of national'defence was a vital ono. Concessions woro now granted to members of friondly societies and clergymen attending annual conferences, and ill order to grant tho request of tho League ho would reft uiro : to framo a new regulation. Tho .'privilego of granting free passes was one which ho jealously guarded. Tho League was intimately associated with tho Dofonco Depart- 1 ineiit, and if any concession was granted it should C9lllO as a charge on tlio Department with which tho deputation was associated. As Minister he had to guard the finances of tlio Railway Department, and lie did not fool inclined to comply with their request. Ho would; howovor, refer tho matter to Cabinet, and seo whether his colleagues wero-in favour of granting tho request. :