THE SOLDIERS’ HEALTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 10

THE SOLDIERS’ HEALTH.

AIDS TO RECOVERY. TRAMWAY CONCESSIONS. In the efforts that are being mado throughout New Zealand to give returned invalided soldiers every chance to recover their normal state of good health, the municipal tramway organisations are playing a big part. A visitor to Christchurch told a reporter yesterday that in "Wellington the tianiway authorities had given the men carte blanche to travel when and where they wished on the tramways and had offered special facilities for them to get away to the seaside resorts and amongst the hills, so that they would be clear of tho busy city, which, considering its bustle and excitement from day to day, was not a place calculated to improve shattered nerves and constitutions weakened from wounds, enteric and other illnesses. The Christchurch Tramway Board has also been doing splendid service in this wav though the public may notbe generally aware of it, as the board s good work is being done quietly and without ostentation ol" any kind. Hr F. Thompson, general manager of the local tramways, told a reporter yesterday that tho board had issued free lifty-fom-ride "tickets to returned undischarged soldiers, and that the men had the privilege of travelling" on. the trams from day to day wherever they wished to go. When the fifty-four rides had been completed a fresh ticket was issued, and this process would be followed so long as a man remained undischarged. Mr Thompson stated that a very large number of tickets had been issued and the men appreciated the consideration keenly. Only recently a letter had been received from tho Returned Soldiers’ Club thanking the board for its efforts to restore men to health by granting them facilities to ride free of all cost- to the bills, the seaside resorts and to other parts of Christchurch served b- the tramways. A very kindly service is also being rendered* by many citizens who possess motor-cars. The cars are being placed at the disposal of the men, and parties of returned invalided soldiers are being driven about the district. In this way the men are being assisted back to their former state of good health. In ho previous war have soldiers been so well "cared for, and the result is shown in the large percentage ol wounded and invalided men who are enabled to return to the front. It is imperative that men should bo encouraged to keep away from tho city centres if their health is to bo improved and those controlling tho tramways in the Dominion are rendering excellent service to the men in this way by granting them privileges to ride wherever they will f’-om day to, clay free of charge.