DELAY OF THE TAHITI.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13873, 15 September 1915, Page 2

DELAY OF THE TAHITI.

(FBOM OUR OWN CoEEHSFONDENT.)

Wellington, Sept. 14. . Somo comment was made in the House- of .Representatives by members this afternoon about the delay that had occurred in the conveyance of sorno of sick and wounded soldiers on board the lahiti to then- homes in the South Isfe? d-rr Mr 1511I 511 raised tho matter. Ihe Hon. James Allen, in reply, expressed has deep regret that the clelay had occurred. He explained that it had been -hoped to send the men South on Saturday night last, but unfortunately the Tahiti's crew and firemen signed on at Wellington. They were asked to reship, but declined to do so. As soon as he (the Minister) returned from th y South this morning he issued instructions that the invalided men fTOI-* 0 go,back to-day .whether the Tahiti sailed or not. Fortunately the \\ ammoo would leave in the evening for Dunedm and Lyttelton, and the Mono wai for Lyttelton. He believed the whole country would regret that the conveyance of the returned men to their homes had been delayed After Mr Witity had spoken, Mr Allen said he had no intimation that the crew had £40 coming to them. He was not going to blam© anybody. He hud not anticipated any trouble. In answer to the member for Motueka, The Minister declared that 'instructions had been issued that where soldiers had to proceed to their homes by small .coastal steamers, and'■ when sent as invalids, they were to-receive firstclass fares. He had no knowledge of any hitch occurring respecting that arraiigemont. As negotiations were going on with the crew regarding now articles, he thought it advisable not to say anything on that point at the present time.