TROOPSHIP RUAHINE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 3

TROOPSHIP RUAHINE

CONDITIONS ON THE VOYAGE t A STATEMENT BY THE N.Z.R.S.A.

Since the arrival in New Zealand of the 6.5. Ituahino with a draft of troop's on! Christmas Day, various paragraphs have nppeared in tho Press with reference to the conditions that obtained during the voyage. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has issued an official Ktatement, excerpts from which are given below.

The specific grounds of complaint (states the association) are:—(l) That in an overcrowded ship'many of those entitled to first or second-class accommodation werc> displaced into third-class by civilians' whoso qualification was that they weie prepared to pay a highly profitable passage rate. (2) That while tho 327 military passengers were entitled to second-class passages, the conditions were actually much worse than third class. (3) Thattho conditions on board the vessel were incorrectly represented by Colonels Fall and Dawson, win were the responsible embarkation officers.

The trouble commenced . in Torquay. Early in the vovag6 it was derided that on arrival'in 'New Zealand tho matter would lie placed in the hands of the U.S.A. for invrstipntion. With this object in view, the delegates who were appointed wero very careful to keen full records of nil business transacted by them. The result has been that nothing has to chance, full minutes of all meetings have been kept: and, in addition, a menu book was also kept. In this book were'entered details of practically all the meals that were served on ipard, together with comments on the food, its cooking and serving. In February a sub-committee appointed by the R.S'.A. Executive waited on General Bichardson. One of the Euahine's delegates was present at the interview. The following points emerged clearly out of a long discussion The substitution of third-class messing for second-class is admitted. Payment of ,Ci in compensation is offered.- The Court of Tnnuirv held at Cape Town'in general upholds tho truth of tho statements of tho liuahine. Committee. A militnrv inquiry is now_ beinf prosecuted in England with the object of fixing the responsibility for the condition; of the ship'iipon the right parties. The position now is that the amount of M has, been refused as. being totally inadequate compensation, practically every n.c.o. interested havintr sppnt more than this amonnt on extras to make un. for the poor nnality of the food provided.In the case of niarried men the expenditure, was mnoh croater. Further, no re-, fund was offered on account of passage; money paid for wives. This was on a; basis of a seeon 1-class passage, and theyshared the discomfort and disndvnntages against which the men are nrotesting. A, Naval Court of Inquiry was'held in Cane Town, and' it in general'-"upholds the truth of the Bnahine Committee's statements. The U.S.A. has requested the Minister to supply a copy o/ the finding of the ino'iirv. and also n copy of the evidence taken nt nnd the 'finding of the inquiry now in progress. The N.Z.If.S.A. has resolved uj.on a full' investigation of tho whole matter, with the' _ objects or ascertaining who were responsible for the conditions on board, and of obtaining adequate compensation for those who suffer-

ed. . What needs explaining is—(l) How it camo • about flint civilians were able by payment, of,the .noces«ry passage money to disnlace'soldiers from- the conditions to which the regulations entitled them? (2) How Colonels Hall and Dawson reconcile their specific assurance to the men b»fore embarkation with the actual conditions on board? o).Granted that tho accommodation to which the military passengers . were. entiHed was not'possible, what pir-sibb justification there was for tho foul 'conditions of the ship or 'for the blank refusal of the ship's officers to raise the' quality of the messing to even third class? ...... The men have demanded the return of the passage 'money (,£l2) paid for wives and dependants,, and damages at .025 per head,' for the conditions endured. It is understood that » lml action is arising out of the matter. It seems that a general inquiry into the various shipping contracts made l>y- the Government would clicit some facts of great interest-to the taxpayers of the country. : Copies of the report of delegates are available-on application to ' headouarter? of the N.Z.R.S.A., box 1010, Wellington. .