LIFEBOATS ON TRANSPORTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2568, 16 September 1915, Page 6

LIFEBOATS ON TRANSPORTS

ALLEGEDLY INSUFFICIENT. When the House of Representatives met yesterday Mr. C. J. Parr and Mr. Poland rose together to direct tlie attention of tho Prime Minister to an article which appeared in the Auckland "Herald" on Tuesday stating that the boats with tfhich the New Zealand transports are equipped are totally inadequate for tho -purpose of saving life- ' Tho nature of the complaint was stated by Mr. Poland, 'who said that letters from mombers of tho Sixth Roinforcement draft had been published in which it was pointed out that tho boats on the transport would accommodate only one-third- of tlio men on board. Tlie men said that lots had been drawn to determine who should go into tho boats in the event of. disaster. Tho rest were to stand fore and aft while the boats rowed away. If this were so, said Mr. Poland, it was a very alaimiue stato of affairs. Tho Prime Minister said that honourable members, as well as those responsible for the article in question ought to know that tho ships used as transports for New Zealand are comparatively small vessels by comparison with the' larger vessels engaged on the trade routes. When a thousand and . more men were placed oil board a transport it was almost 'impossible to provide sufficient boatst to carry them. Members: Oh, but they must be provided. Mr. Massey: I do not know what arrangements are made by the' British Government in providing boats for transports, but it seems to mo that the risk is being greatly exaggerated. I would point out that during tho South African war our mon were sent_ to South Africa under these conditions, and a quarter of a million British troops were carried at the same time without anv accident. Air. C. H Poole interjected_ to ask whether a life-belt was provided for every man on the ship. Mr: Massey said that this was so. Ho would tako an early opportunity of Going into tlie whole matter with the Minister of Defence with the obiect of improving the position, if possible.