THE AYRSHIRE’S DRAFT.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 September 1919, Page 5

THE AYRSHIRE’S DRAFT.

} THIRTY “BAD LOTS” ABOARD. ‘ ! CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 21. The troopship Ayrshire, which left tLiverpool Docks on August 5, brought iout a mixed draft of soldiers, varying {from Main Body details to the Fortyithird Reinforcements. Speaking in regard to focdon the transport, Lieut.-Colonel N. F. Narbey. of Eltham, who was in command of ' the troops, said they le.-it E_ngiand at a time when potatoes were scarce, and ' the result was that the men had to :4 _.go. ‘short of potatoes during the latter part of the trip. The meat and other ‘E’ foodstuffs‘ were" good," bu’f."l,here ‘ was .a shortage of vegetables. ’ Colonel Narbey stated that,_._,_,ab,_.'.lut._ 30': men, who--ihad been ser/~'l’if_§,¥if:i‘§":l'_'c‘>.;sil§' terms of inipr-i‘sonnlent"for s‘erifou's offences, had been put on board “before” _ leavillgs_ and would be .hande,d:"clVer to‘ M the proper authorities here. _S_or_nc --f these men were really--had lots’, and ‘ had causd some trouble on the voyage. ' ,Four of the men had formed a.~plct A to break into the kit store and rob the kits, but were caught. red—handed. They were sentenced to 23 days.’ detention, and had been deprived of their railway privilege W 3 rrants. These men had been kept in close detention from the tillle—Thcy were sentenced, but the other prisoners were allowed the freedom Ofthc ship.