DEFENCE LEAGUE CON

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 6 April 1908, Page 5

DEFENCE LEAGUE CON-

FERENCE.

[PRBSS ASSOCIATION.]

„_W ELLINGTON,, April 6. representing the" National Defence League are to meet in Wellington this Easter. In reference to this the Minister for Railways, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, received a deputation asking for the delegates free passes on the railways. \ The Minister, in reply, said he waß entirely with them in the great and good work they were doing, but to do what the deputation asked would mean the framing and gazetting of a new regulation. The only alternative wa§ to grant free passes, whioh, he Assured I them, was a privilege that he jealously guarded. In this case the League was intimately associated with the Defence Department, and his suggestion was that if any concession were granted it should come as a charge on the debariment with which 4 the deputation

was associated. \