PAY THEIR OWN TRANSPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 4

PAY THEIR OWN TRANSPORT

DISABLED RETURNED SOLDIERS PATRIOTIC COUNCIL ACCEPTS TEMPORARY RESPONSIBILITY Hardship for returned soldiers -of the Second N.Z.E.F. has been caused by the fact that, although still attending hospitals in many cases on account of their war injuries, they have had to pay their own transport in the form of tram fares. The Otago Provincial Patriotic Council has now put the matter right with a clause in a report adopted yesterday, which says that for the next 28 days the council will pay the necessary expense. The provision recognises the alleged responsibility of the Defence Department for the expenses of these men. Mr Edgar Hazlett, who moved the adoption of the report, containing the clause, said that a request had been received from the Returned Soldiers’ Association that some concession be given to these soldiers resident in Dunedin and adjacent districts. The committee felt that it" was not altogether the liability of the City Corporation, which had already been particularly generous to the war effort. It was really the liability of the Defence Department. He suggested opening up a correspondence with the department. If the men were receiving, medical attention • in Bombay, Cairo, or some place nearer the war centre, the department woiild have to pay. ■. For the' next • 28 days, however, until some reply had been received; he moved that the Patriotic Council pay the necessary expense. Dr Newlands expressed a fear that the department would do nothing. It had returned a very unpromising reply •recently to the question of the retention of these men in the service until they had been discharged fit. Failing any action on the part of the Defence Department, he thought it would be very difficult for the Patriotic Council to discontinue the concession, once it had been started. The matter, he contended, was better left over until a reply had been received. . • Mr A. H. Allen, who presided at tho meeting, said that he,' too, felt it to bo the Army’s responsibility, but as nothing was done, he felt it unfair to leave it to the men to .pay themselves. “ Possibly the Red Cross might feel it to be their responsibility,” he suggested “ They provide transport for tho men. But I know that if the public were aware that these men were going without transport assistance whilst wo argue as to whoso responsibility it is, they would put the blamo on us.” ,

• Mr W. R. Clarke referred to4>he concession existing for Territorials. He asked whether it had been extended, to returned soldiers. —The Mayor answered that it. applied to all men in uniform.

“ This is a case where the Dunedin Citv Corporation might well err on the side of genemsitv,” said ,Mr A, C. Cameron. “It costs the. council nothing at all—the cars are runmngin anv case.” • The Mayor interrupted with a vigorous criticise the council here. Wc don t criticise other bodies.” Mr D. C. Cameron supported Mr Hazlett, and tiie motion was carried.