WHO IS TO BLAME?

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9094, 13 July 1915, Page 5

WHO IS TO BLAME?

A SERIOUS BUNGLE TRAINS ORDERED BUT NOT REQUIRED. A bungle that requires looking into took place on Sunday morning. The suddenness of the order Tosued evidently on the report of the medical officer in respect to the condition of the camp at Trcntharn, and' the presence of a disease 'of a very contagious nature—to remove the troops at tire earliest opportunity, .necessitated calling on the Railway Department for rissistance. This assistance was forthcoming at once. , Only an hour or two elapsisd before the first train load of soldiers Jett Trentham for the new camping grounds at Waikanae and Uangiotu, raid tiro mounted men were started on trrclr to a •selected site at TaUherenikau. Ihe Artillery and Army Service Gowns remained in camp at Trentham for the purpose of collecting baggage arid other camp equipment for consignn rent to the new camping grounds, and the btu Infantry Reinforcements also remained behind, waiting a report of the suitability of the proposed camp Mite at Bainesse, situated between Lougourn and Foxton. When this report was furnished by the officers who mat Jo the inspection, it was not considered advisable to send the men to Baitnesse. and their destination was alter-?d to ’rauhereniknu, and train arrangements were made accordingly. GROSS MISMANAGEMENT.

It was at first proposed to dispatch ■the 6th Infantry Reinforcements to Tauheronikau on Saturday, but on av count of* the heavy rain it was wisely decided, in the interests of the men, that their departure should bo dolr.iyed cntil the weather conditions were more favourable, and yesterday was the day selected for entraining the troops. This arrangement was notified throtign press of the city, but it is alleged "that •mother order was issued to the wav Department that the 6th Bern 'forcemeats would move out of camp on Sunday morning and that trains would ho required for this purpose. The day was a suitable one, both as to weather conditions and from a railway point of view, as the line was free from railway traffic. . . , At 6.30 on Sunday morning the first, troop train was dispatched from Dampton to Trentham, and was timed toleave Trentham at 6.20. It duly arrived opposite the camp, but no troops Were in readiness. An attempt wav* made by the railway officials in charge of the train to discover the reason of the delay, - but they were prevented from entering the camp, and by the time a military officer of authority had been brought to the scene a second train had arrived. This tram left bambton an hour after the first one, and was i.imcd to leave Trentnam at 7,20. A consultation was held, and it Was discovered , that no _ order had reached the camp authorising the removal of the 6th Infantry Reinforcements. and after some delay the trains returned to Wellington empty. With whom, it is being asked, does the blame Jor this bungle lie? THE EXPENSE CONSIDERABLE. The cost of this -blunder is said _to amount to a considerable item. The whole'of the railway staff between Lambton and Feathorston were notified that they would be required to be on duty in order to facilitate the progress of the troop trains to .their destinations. Engines were iii readiness to haul the trains over the Bimutakas, and the railway system was practically set in motion solely for the convenience of these troop trains. The railway men on duty have to be paid extra for Sunday work, which in the aggregate will amount to a considerable sum of money, and all through what is held to be the blunder of some official. The opinion is expressed that the matter should he sifted to tho bottom and the blame placed on the shoulders of the responsible person or persons, wnoevet be or they may be.