THE WELLINGTON SECTION'S COMPLAINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 78, 30 March 1900, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON SECTION'S COMPLAINTS.

Wellington, March 29. At a meeting of the Send-off Committee of the Fifth Contingent the Major said he had wired the Premier stating that there were many complaints at Wellington of the treatment the Wellington section of the Fourth Contingent received in not being amongst those despatched by the first steamer, and also of the accommodation provided in the Gymeric. He asked the Premier to give an assurance of improved arrangements in order to allay the anxiety of friends and relatives. Mr. Beauchamp, a member of ■ the Committee, stated that a gentleman just arrived from the south infoimed him* that by the time of departure the Gymeric would be in everyway a suitable vessel for transport. The question will be further discussed at a meeting to-morrow. Lateb, The following is the text of the telegram sent to the Premier at Christchurch this morning by the Mayor of Wellington:—"Reports and rumours are so prevalent here as te the insanitary condition of the Gymeric, in which the Wellington men are who were selected and paid for by the public of this district, that, as Mayoi of the city and Chairman of the Committee who •elected and paid for them, I would urge upon you the necessity of having an independent medical examination made of the ship at once. I would also ' Urge that some capable seaman or Cus- , toms authority, with independent capable aid, should also inspect and see ' if enough boats are being carried for : the number of men on board. Public agitation can -only be allayed by some examination of this kind. I trust you ', will see that effect is given to these ] suggestions." j Referring to the complaints that ' have been made as to the insanitary ' condition of the Gymeric, the following 1 certificate, signed by Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville, Surgeon-Captain J. Watt, and Surgeon-Major W. H. Hoskin, has been sent to the Premier:—" We hereby certify that the sanitary arrange- ' menta on board the Gymeric are now k satisfactory, and the causes which led J to the dissatisfaction of tbe men have been removed." This afternoon the Premier went on board the Gymeric to see for himself the exact state of affairs. He was conducted over the vessel by Colonel Sommerville, and during his inspection asked if there were any complaints. Only one was forthcoming, that of th> f Auckland men, in the forward 'tween decks, as to the smell from the stables and to their being too closely packed, but on being told what arrangements were being made for altering this state of 'affairs they expressed themselves quite satisfied. Mr. Saddon suggested that all the men should be paraded, and that then, if any man had a griev- I ance, he could state it, but the men • asked him not to do so. At the same < time be informed them that if anyone i felt dissatisfied with tbe arrangements < it would be far better for him to say co < now and stop behind than to go to sea < dissatisfied. No one, however, volunteered a complaint.

INTERESTING POST CARDS. Welmkgton, March 29. A new series of pictorial post cards besriog representations of incidents in connection with the despatch of the contingents and portraits of the officer? of the First and Second Contingents s it being prepared, and will be leady foi issue in Wellington on Saturday morning.