RETURN OF WOUNDED.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13824, 20 July 1915, Page 7

RETURN OF WOUNDED.

RED TAPE IN EVIDENCE.

INOONSIDKR 4TE ARRANGEMENTS

PROTEST BY NELfe'ON COMMITTEE

At the meeting of the Executive Committee cf the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund held last evening, tlie Rev. T. G. Butler, who acted in Wellington as representative of the committee in looking after the returned Nelson men by the Willochra, made a report. The reverend gentleman did not utter one word that could be termed abusive, but he contrived to show in unmistakeable fashion his contempt for red taoe and to convey the impression that red tape was very much in evidence in Wellington iast Friday. Mr. Butler explained the -difficulty in ! getting nasses, the restrictions being such that Mr. and Mrs. Ccck, who were present to meet their soldier son, could not both get passes, one only being forthcoming after due application. This was put right only through the intervention of Mr. T. A. H. Field, M.P. Considerable difficulty was also experienced in finding out who were the Nelson men and where they were. Tf the inquirers had been condemned to depend on the Defence Department it would have been next day before any definite information was forthcoming. Mr. Biitler detailed how it was discovered that the men had been provided with steerage passages only, and how the 3ifference in fares had been provided and the men sent saloon. Incidentally it transpired that Private Haase, who had to be accompanied by a nurse, would have been sent steerage also, but the nurse absolutely refused to allow her patient to be put in the steerage. She got him into a comfortable place in the social hall, and refused to have him moved, no the powers that be had to provide for saloon passages for both. What he had seen, remarked Mr. Butler, convinced him that it was necessary to have a Nelson representative to meet any returned sick and wounded, and furthermore ho had been convinced that anything we could do for these men was not'too much in view of the sacrifices they had made. Those who were not contributing according to their means for the sick and wounded soldiers should be made t# feel heartily ashamed of themselves.

A very hearty vote of thanks to Messrs. Butler and Field was carried, despite the protest of the former, who said that they had merely done their duty.

Then followed some caustic remarks regarding the want of consideration and general ineptitude of those responsible for arranging to send sick and wounded soldiers to their homes as steerage passengers.

It was resolved that in future a representative of the committee proceed to Wellington to meet returning Nelsonians ; that a protest be made to the Defence Office regarding steerage passages, a.nd that tho Department be asked to arrange for saloon passages in future; that in case the Department will not do so the committee pay the difference between saloon and steerage passages, and that the Union Company be requested to issue/ saloon passages and collect the differencedrom the committee failing other arrangements being made.

Anent the return, of. the Nelson men, the secretary referred to the matter of comment on motor cars (already explained in_ these columns). He said that the committee had not spent one penny on motor cars. Messrs. Newman Bros, had been most generous in this matter, and the matter of the ambulance. The owners of other cars plying for hire had also offered their cars free of charge, and privately owned cars also had been offered. He further mentioned that Dr Bett had gone to the Port and met the men and attended to the transport oi those disabled.

It was resolved to refund the amount expended by Mr. Butler on fares for the returning soldiers.