The Union s.s. Company.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 963, 23 July 1881, Page 7 (Supplement)

The Union s.s. Company.

The N. Z. Herald says • —Several of the steerage passengers by the Penguin have made a complaint to us of the manner in which they have been treated by the Union Company, and we certainly think their grievance ought to be redressed. The Ringarooma was advertised to leave Dunedin for Sydney, via the East Coast, and passenger tickets were issued for Sydney. On arriving at Wellington, the passengers were shifted to the Penguin (the Ringarooma being sent back to Dunedin), and tickets were given them having the word “ Sydney ” written on them. Persons came on board at Napier and Gisborne, and they were also engaged to be taken right on to Sydney. This was after the Ringarooma had been sent back, and the officers of the companv knew quite well that the Penguin was not going through. Arriving at Auckland, the Sydney passengers inquire how they are to be taken on, and find that tl?e Albion is advertised for Friday. But there is a chance that the Albion may be quarantined, and thus these unfortunate men will have to remain in Auckland for ten or twelve days. There are some seventy of them, and some of them are, we believe, by no means well furnished with cash. Besides, those who have a little money w ant to keep it, so as not to land in Sydney penniless. About fifty meh last night waited on the agent of the company, and xvere told to go on board till 10 o’clock to-morrow. From the statements made by these men it would appear that the company cannot do anything else fairly than make some arrangements by which they should not be subjected to a tedious and expensive detention in Auckland.