LIFE ON A TRANSPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1918, Page 1

LIFE ON A TRANSPORT.

COM I'l.A INTS ABOUT JOVItE AND

ACCOMMODATION

THE • OFFICIAL 'RKI’LY. • AUCKLAND, Oct. 28. Many complaints wore made by officers and men who returned to Now Zealand by Transport No. 197 about the fare and accommodation, particularly in the forward dormitory. “ She was a hungry and uncomfortable ship, even for a transport,” was the verdict of many of the men and some of the officers. The food was generally described as rough and meagre. One

veteran stated that in France his unit was much better fed. 'J ho troops in on e portion, of the ship complained that the food they received was often very short, in addition to being rough and

badly cooked. Enquiry elicited the qualification that occasionally the rations were satisfactory, but no one would admit that these occasions wore anything but exceptional. " “ A man on the outward voyage.”

said a long service soldier, “ can stand indifferent food and uncomfortable conditions, hut when he returns invalided he certainly has a right to expect the treatment which liis impaired health requires. On this voyage bully beef and biscuits were actually issued for the evening meal on two occasions.” Other soldiers mentioned that bad feeding had led to the men buying better food from the ship’s staff. The practice had become fairly common on Hie troopships. Some men paid several pounds to be supplied with good food throughout the voyage, said one soldier, and every evening scores bought jugs of tea at one shilling each.

The forward dormitoiy—6oft by 42ft |jv 80ft—was used both as a sleeping place and as a messroom. the hammocks being slung during the day. Over 200 men slept in this space. The ventilation was declared to ho very limited, and many men were forced to sleep on deck, the . constant calm weather making this possible. An officer who fully endorsed these opinions of the men, when asked "lute ],c considered the fault lay. replied that while more concern in the had state of things might have been shown by the military authorities on the ship, ho thought the real weakness was in the method of provisioning the ship. The statements given by the men were submitted to the Minister f>f Defence (Sir James Allen), who made enquiries regarding the matter, and the following statement has been received from him :

(Insufficiency of Food.—-'Complaints wore • received on this score, and the matter was fully investigated by the military officers, when it was found that such insufficiency was occasioned by the Imperial Food Controller placing the vessel on English rations. lhi c was explained to the men, and while it is regrettable that such expedients should he resorted to, the slioit.ige o. food in the United Kingdom in al probability made it: imperative for the Food Controller so to ration the vessel, and while this shortage continues, it- is difficult to sec what remedy can lie made. The complaint that this insufficiency would affect, the health of the men can only be characterised as pure conjecture, and would have been guarded against by the medical officers. Bad Cooking.—Complaints in this respect were made and investigated, when it was found that sueli arose through the carelessness of the cooks. Every effort was made to remedy the defects, but. bad or inferior cooking with the present, scarcity of competent cooks is a most.difficult matter to adjust. The difficulty was eventually overcome by the efforts of the militaly officers in conjunction with the ship's t <sale of Food to Troops. The officer commanding the troops states that imports of such practices were brought to his notice early in the voyage, when immediate steps were taken to stop the practice. Accommodation.— The vessel was fitted under the supervision of an Admiralty inspector and passed by the G.O.C. and A.D.M.S., New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, in the United Kingdom. More space than usual was given. The hammock hooks were placed 18 inches -apart instead of the customary 16 inches, as laid down in the Admiralty regulations. In addition to this two electric fans were installed in the dormitory. It is quite clear that every precaution and care were taken to ensure that the ship was efficiently fitted, and that, any complaints received were promptly dealt with, and as far as possible remedied.