The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883. A BLOW TO THE COLONY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1112, 14 November 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1883. A BLOW TO THE COLONY.

The s.s. lonic arrived at Wellington on Thursday with a large number of passengers. We regret to notice by the local papers that some serious complaints as to the accommodation, food, and sanitary arrangements of the vessel have been made by the third class passengers. They allege that the urinals were exposed in view of the female passengers, and running over, and that there was not sufficient closet accommodation; that the air was close and stifling, and the port holes could not be opened whilst under steam even in the finest weather. With regard to the food, they assert that they did not receive an ounce of

fresh moat, except in cases of the doctor’s patients, after leaving Plymouth, and that the salt meal supplied was so bad that much of it was thrown overboard ; that they were subject to annoyance from the crew cursing and swearing at them, and sweeping the filth from the deck to the places where they were standing, and that the chief steward of the ship was most uncivil nnd disobliging; that they wore also exposed to annoying restrictions from there being Government immigrants on board with them, and that there were not sufficient appliances in the way of boats, &c, for saving life in case of accident; also, that the third class hatchways were not provided with lights, and that the boxes of passengers were roughly handled, and some of them broken. They admit that the captain and some of the officers had given them general satisfaction so far as civility was concerned. The Times, which finds a place for the above in its columns,-has been assured that the statements are true. And seeing that they are made by a committee appointed by the passengers and representing 191 souls, there remains lit tie reason to doubt their accuracy in the main. A more unfortunate check to the flow of passengers to the Colony could not have occurred, and these people seem determined to let their grievance hiiVc the fullest publicity. Copies of the document containing the charges or complaints have been left with the Colonial Secretary nnd Immigration Agent and other copies will be forwarded to the Board of Trade in London and the Sceretaiy of State for the Colonies. The treatment which the passengers by the lonic has received demands the fullest enquiry possible. The New Zealand Shipping Company has hitherto borne such a good name amongst passengers by its vessels that it seems improbable that the Company should be immediately responsible lor the sufferings of these passengers, for no doubt they must have suffered considerably, even if one half of what they allege be true. But the worst feature of nil in the affair is the bad effect it will have upon the passenger trade to the colony. People at Home are not at nil fond of the voyage to New Zealand. It is 100 long, and therefore the attractions of the American Continent, with its ten or twelve days passage, are very strong for those who have made up their minds to emigrate. It was to reduce the length of the voyage to this colony to something under fifty days that steam has been brought into service, and so far the experiment had proved tolerably successful. It is therefore matter for regret throughout the Colony that this unpleasantness in connection with the lonic has cropped up. We hope that the charges will be sifted to the bottom, and if blame there be, that it will be placed on the proper shoulders, and effectual steps taken to prevent a similar occurrence. Intending emigrants at Home will want a strong assurance in future before entrusting themselves upon a New Zealand bound steamer, that they are not going to be annoyed and insulted on the voyage.