RAILWAY PASSES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 11

RAILWAY PASSES.

FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

CAPTAIN SIMSON ACTIVE;

SIB JOSEPH WARD'S REPLY.

Captain Donald Siinson has been endeavouring to get the Government to issue free railway passes to soldiers, 1 and a part of his campaign wis a loup; wire to Sir Joseph Ward, urging that this concession granted. 1 "■* Sir Joseph Ward replied as follows:

"I am in receipt of your telegram of 'to-day's date. I am not*responsible for what appears in the papers. My reply to the deputation which interviewed m.e was that the matter did not come under my Administration, but that I would convey the representations to the Minister in charge of the Department. I pointed out the question of a larg'e number of men having free travelling to all portions of the country over the railways presented considerable difficulties. , I will place the matter before the Minister of Defence on my return to "Wellington 1 early next week. I am just as anxious as you are to do everything possible for the returned soldiers. The question as to .whether everything asked can be done must necessarily require the proper consideration of the Railway Department, which has to carry on the business of the general public in these difficult times through which we are •passing.''