A SOLDIER'S GRIEVANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2651, 23 December 1915, Page 6

A SOLDIER'S GRIEVANCE

, ■■■ (To the Editor.) _ Sir, —Would you allow a small space . in your paper to give' publicity to some ■. .seemingly unfair and unnecessary trcatrnent that we in khaki are subjected to. •Firstly, I consider that 24 hours is beyond the limit for-the delivery, of telergrams after being handed in. ' We apparently only waste, money in paying lor telegrams, because letters would . very 'often reach, the address , in, the. same time. Wo have , a well staffed and very easy-going staff in both tfie ... .Trentham and Tauherenikau Camps, and 1 consider more speed by far' could be exercised in the matter of telegraphic v communication.. ; 'Again, parcels properly and sufficiently addressed'take a long time before . . they are delivered. " Another thing. iWhy is a soldier, ill uniform, even ihougli he pays only Is'.' for a troojier's • ticket, made-to give up to a civilian his seat in a. train. Even though the civilian may not be'able to' go himself, '. why should a man who answers the \ call be treated as something almost despicable? Surely the man who risks ' his life, or life disfigurement; to say * that the grand old flag won't go under, • . and . that those who enjoy t'he freedom "• . <ff ibeing .under the flag may still jet _ < other men do all the; fighting, is ena titled to at least the privileges afford- ; ed, ordinary passengers. 'lhere are ; many things that khakis growl at unnecessarily, but I consider a word or two;.on these subjects are ' justified. Thanking you; Sir, for your anticipated kindness,—l am, etc., ...-• ONE OF THE 10THS. .December 20... • . . . , [Our correspondent's complaints with '' regard to alleged postal and telegrar ;' " ahic deficiencies are. too vaguely stated ■ to admit of any satisfactory informa- ■> . tion-being obtained on inquiry. The postal authorities, when seen on the above matter, stated that/ they had're- ; ceived no complaints at all about'the i delivery of telegrams at the military camps; They also stated that/ as a .; matter of fact the delivery was commendably prompt,"the-staffs being'specially •' selected with that .end in view., The ; Railway Traffic Department is in complete ignorance of anything on which the latter part of tho letter can bo founded. No passenger, soldier, or oivilian is under anj; obh'gation, from a railway point of. view, to resign his feat in favour of another person.]