APPALLING CONDITIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1946, Page 5

APPALLING CONDITIONS

INVESTIGATION OF YOIZUKI COMAIITTEE'S REPORT TABLED Received Wednesclay, 11.45 p.m. CANBBKKA, JViaruu *0. The report of the investigalion commitlee oii the Japanese destroyer Yoi?.uki, taDled in Parliament tnis arceriioon, states tliat the vessel carried an 0,-erload oi' 57 pepple. The overloading uas dr.e to a desire not to separate linxly groups or to leave in Australia a sniall uuniher of Forniosans. • ' it is difficult to find words adequatcly to descrihe the filthy conditions on the .ship," continues the report. The conuitions were caused hy the unwuiingness of the passengers to colluijorate with the crew in cleaning the t, t-ssel. Thirtytwo stretcher cases were OiiKj.uaed, including six women and me case oi dysentry. The sick were accoiumodated in a deck superstructure oi two layers, with four feet three liudi'.'S between the layers. Tlie passengers did not complain of ultroatmeiit. The food was ample and j tJie l.ivatory accommodation was satisiuctury. The medical equipment and drugs were adequate and there \v3re U'i'. turs on board, including one Japan- 1 ese. The i'resli water allowance was only just suilicient. The committee found that the standard oi aeeommpdation was equivaient to the standard the Japanese provided l'or tlieir own personnel. On this voy- , age the numher carried should have been iimited to 800 and the luggage | shoiiid have heen restricted to h;.nu ; h.ggage. At least half the family! groups would have chosen to go on j with the ship rather than risk delay. j The total numher disembarked atj Ra hani was 352 men, women and children. AU the male memhers of families weri) liicluded. The report disclosed that, after the br-.ui. barlcation, the port officers were lhstructed to ship a suilicient numoer oi male rormosans to hring the num1.ei back to 948. On the intervention tfi j hs committee, they agreed' to drop puinhsr to 800. The Yoizuki is fitted with wirelcss, which the Japanese operator is unable to operate through ignorance. The people were allowed five pints oi water (laily. Tin refrigerator was in order at Rabaul and fresh meat was avuilable there. The crew's quarters waro clean and neat, hut the passengers ' accommodation was filthy. \