THE MINISTERS' RETURN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1917, Page 10

THE MINISTERS' RETURN.

TRAVEL BY SPECIAL TRAIN. BITTER COMMENT IN WELLINGTON. fSpccinl to The Sun.] WELLINGTON, June 2G. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward signalised their return to the Dominion by making what is undoubledlv a great tactical blunder in travelling from Auckland to Wellington today in a special train. Their action is the subject of universal comment in the capital to-night. One hears it mentioned everywhere and hy everyone, and some of the comment is verv hitler indeed. In these days of restricted train services, il is really stranse that the two partv leaders should have chosen lo make Ihe journey in what was almost a train-de-luxe, dining car included, which followed over the whole route onlv lhree-nuaHej\s of an hour behind the regular Alain Trunk express.

Notices were posted in various parts of the city this mornina to the effect that the reluming Ministers would arrive hy special train. This was done al the request oNlv Mayor in the hone that there would he a crowd to welcome Ihe leaders al the railwav station, but as n matter of fact thev had an cntirelv different effect, as comment on Ihe ruiyung of the snecial commenced al once.

To-niphl the temper of Ihe people lias not been improved bv the s'fihi of Ihe Heel of huge motor buses lined un, by a curious irony, a! the Parliament House corner, in rcadines to convey to Petone. Hull, and other suburbs, those people who are robbed of their usual means of reaehini home by the curtailment of the train service. II is really a strange thin" thai Ihe lenders should have ac'ed as they did. and that thev were nol "put wise" hv the Ministers of Defence and Munitions, both of whom were in AurMaml. The incident may have no real signification, hul is no doubt thai the people of Wellington who are very nrone a* any tin l " lo he "agin the Guvnunt" are feeling verv sore about it.