RUAHINE'S DRAFT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 78, 27 December 1919, Page 6

RUAHINE'S DRAFT

MEN MAKE BiTTER'COMPLAINTS. By Teleirraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 26. The troopship Ruahine, with 42 officers. three nurses, and 325 of other ranks, arrived on Wednesday night and berthed on Thursday morning:. The southern men left for their homes in the evening. The men complain bitterly regarding their accommodation, mess arrangements, and food. On arrival at Cape Town a court of inquiry was set up, and the findinss' are to bo reported to the New Zealand Government. THE SOUTHERN MEN. ' DIFFICULTY OVER ACCOMMODATION. Some two hundred men and forty wives ftf soldiers, who returned by the Ruahino. readied Wellington by special train from Auckland at 12.20 p m. yesterday. Tho men were met at the Thorndon Railwav Station by a committeo of ladies, who distributed gifts of cigarettes and other comforts. Appropriate musical items were played by the Patriotic Society's Band as the process of detraining was being carried out. There was a good attendance of the Voluntary Motor Corps under Captain W. Pryor and the Wellington men, with their next-of-kin, were transported to their homes with quick despatch. About iK) men for Otago, Southland, and Canterbury left for the south by the Maori last night. When the men reached the vessel 6ome difficulty arose over the matter of accommodation. It 'is stated that the Maori was not a "full shin" so far as civilian passengers wero concerned, but there was some trouble about the arrangements for the reception of the troons. This caused a good deal nf dissatisfaction among tho men, some of whom mad# an angry demonstration,Tho difficulty was eventually adjusted, and tho Maori sailed at ten minutes past 8. twenty-five minutes later than the scheduled time of departure. The men for Nelson will leave by the Pateena to-day.