RETURNING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2816, 6 July 1916, Page 3

RETURNING SOLDIERS

AS THIRD-CLASS PASSENGERS

ARE THEY COMFORTABLE?

Questions as to the comfort of sick and wounded soldiers returning from England in the R.M.S. Atheuic recently were raised in the House of Representatives b\- Mr. T. -A. H. Field, member for Kelson. • .

Mr. Field'aitdressed the following question to the Minister of Defence:—(l) Whether lie will take steps to-arrange lor better' accommodation and passages for sick and wounded soldiers sent back from England? (2) Is there not too much, difference made between omcers and soldiers when returning? .(3) Seeing that the wounded and sick men do not have first, second, and third-class' treatment in hospital's, why should there be such a difference as at present in what are almost 'hospital ships? "On the last trip of -the sthenic, , f ol ',, l * l " stance," ho said in explanation, the sick and wounded men were given accommodation very similar to that giveu to the troops ,ou troopships going to the , front—bunks knocked up in tiers, the only difference being they were divided off with partitions. These bunks were placed two decks below the main deck, aud as far forward as possible. The men had to go backwards and forwards tho whole length of the ship for their meals in tho third-class, whjch was-situated right aft. . A life-lino had to be rigged up in bad weather,«and men with crutches and slicks had to be helped along by their mates. On six or eight occasions at least men were drenched to the skin, in getting to their quarters, and were often flung down—one man wa6 severely injured from a fall. There were four unfortunate men with wooden legs--three of them, after some trouble, had berths found for them in. the third-class. The food they got was third-class food. The quality, 1 am told, wos all right, but badly cooked. .Several complaints were made aboiit the food, but no notice was taken of them. On account of this there was a slight. disturbance just before reaching port. The officers had first* class "accommodation, sergeants secondclass, but corporals and privates had not even third-class accommodation. Tho Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Dofence) replied: Tho position is that the High Commissioner makes arrangements as required for batches of invalided soldiers discharged from military hospitals in England to be returned to New Zealand on tho first available liner. Ihu following'.report has been rendered by Commander Croesland of the Athenic on tho issues raised on the question, and is submitted for tho information of honourable members. The report, 1 coneider, fairly disproves any neglect in. making duo provision for tho comfort and proper accommodation of tho invalided soldiers In. question' on the part ot the High Commissioner and the ship's officers. I am forwarding a copy of the question : and .tho answer to the High Commissioner for his information ano further roport,- and will be only too willing to let the honourable member see tho reply when it arrives: "(1) The hundred odd wounded: and sick returned soldiers were berthed in the forward section of our third class, which is situated in the fore partof the ship, and is that part of tli'e third class usually allotted to single male "passengers. This accommodation consists of the ordinary four and six-borthed cabins with upper and lower berths and has dining quarters attached. As these men were in every respect third-class passengers arrangements were made for them to mess in the third-class dining saloon aft, with -their, fellowpassengers, hence the trip over the decks complained of;. but this arrangement had the merit of tho food being served hot, whilst if they had messed forward the food must inevitably have become oooled in transit. (2) The accommodation provided was inspected nnd passed by a representative;of the New- Zealand High Commissioner at Plymouth when the troops embarked and two eases of. men with wooden legs were transferred to the third-class after-quarters. B. e " yond this, three more cases which I considered should have been made hospital cases were transferred to the ship's hospital ait! The ship had no weather bad enough to necessitate life-lines, but these were provided by me as a necessary precaution considering the physical stato of some ot the men. The only wetting the f y would get would be from sprays whioh could have been avoided, aiul'l know of.no man being severely injured by a fall. (3) Thero were no official complaints brought to my notice re food, which was inspected daily. Tho O.C. troops expressed himself as completely satisfied with the food, provided for the men. (4) I am surprised to learn of any disturbance having occurred prior to reaching port, arising out of these causes. This is the first intimation I have received of it. As regards differential accommodation for officers, N.C.O.'s and men, these ships carry only three classes of passengers and. the. allotting of this to wounded soldiers must rest entirely m the hands of the New Zealand GovLondon " representatives.— (ogd.) J, Grassland, Commander."