TROUBLE AT TORQUAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 8

TROUBLE AT TORQUAY

A TROOPSHIP'S ACCOMMODATION,

Conditions at the outset of tho voyage of the transport liuahine, which berthed at Auckland on Christmas Day, no far as the n.c.o.'s, and their wives were concerned, causcd considerable dissatisfaction, says tho "Herald." After ( t|ie troops had arrived on board, and the second-class passengers (n.c.o.'s) had seen their berthing.' accommodation, a large number—in,fact, all the single sergeants and several married sergeants walked back with thej.r luggage on to the tender, refusing to occupy quarters allocated to them. Tho ship's adjutant called a parade of all those who were dissatisfied with their accommodation for 4 p.m., when they were addressed by Colonel Hall aiid Lieut.-Colonel Dawson. _ The outcome of the meeting was that Colonel Hall told the men they either had.-to take the accommodation offered or go back ashore at their own risk of. disciplinary action being taken. Immediately after the tender pulled away, leaving the troops nnd their luggage aboard; The O.C. troops, refused to take any active part in this dispute until tho men were handed over to him by tho embarkation staff.., Complaints became so general, affil grievances so numerous, that it was considered neces:ary to appoint delegates 011 board, who would be in the position to interview the O.C. troops when neceseary. The delegates commcnded the C.O. for tho fair hearing they were accorded, and for cariying out their wishes wherever possible. As the voyago .progressed better arrangements were made for Hie mcs=ing of tlie n.c.o.'s and their wives, and tho cooking and serving of t.be food improv-

ed. . , At Cape Town large stores of fresh fruit were taken oil board, and this added lo the. ship's rations removed all cause /or complaint. lii regard to the li.c.o.'s accommodation it was decided to make a claim on the New.Zealand Government for a return in full of the pas-rage money paid for wives and dependants of soldiers, and compensation lo all warrant officers and sergeants returned to New Zealand under conditions other than those promised and laid down in regulations. The chief source of trouble was in the cooking and serving of ilio food. Breed, butter, sugar, cheese, and potatoes were all of first-class quality, and the quantity supplied was,practically ad lib. At the same time,the'menu was not an average second saloon one. There was also some dissatisfaction in regard to the deck-space allotted fccondclass passengers, land the C.O. decided that they should have the right to use the first-class por.lion of the promenade deck along with first-class passengers. The movement was satisfactory to all parties concerned. The senior medical officer on board said that on the whole the conditions were satisfactory, but adds that it would ill live been better in every respect if the messing and sleeping quarters of the unmarried men could 'have been in separate quarters. Even though cvc.ry precaution was taken to keep (ho cubicles as far away from the messing tables as possiblo, in many cases they were too near to lie altogether pleasant. 'Hie veiitiia- | tion ill these quarters was excellent, except during' the very few days in which I tho batches wero battened 'down.