Under War Conditions.

Hastings Standard, Volume XII, Issue 4130, 15 April 1909, Page 8

Under War Conditions.

TRANSPORT DISCOMFORT. GENERAL MANAGER OF RAILWAYS RUBS IT IN. PER PRESS ASSOC[ATION. Wellington, April 15. In connection with the complaints concerninf ,v 2 alleged defective arrangement ;or the transporr of troops to the Canterbury Easter mar ceuvres, the General Manager of Railways says : —" There is always trouble in regard to volunteers. They consider in many cases they ; should receive much greater consideration ihan is extended to the ordinary public, and yet they are supposed to be acting under war conditions. We do the best we can for them, but our experience has not been satisfactory. There is a considerable lack of discipline, and as a general rule we don't get much assistance from the officers. At the Oringi encampment things -went -off very successfully, and the officers worked admirably and gave tveiy assistance. We only "have a certain amount of rolling stock, and I take it that women and children have first claim on covered carriages. Most of the volunteers are young men, and most of them would put up with far greater inconvenience to attend an athletic contest or play in a football match.