TRANSPORT GRIEVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1916, Page 4

TRANSPORT GRIEVANCES.

CHARGES AGAINST AN OFFICER, discussion in parliament. By Telegraph.—Pres, Awociatlon. Wellington, Last Night. Jn the House of Representatives Uft night the Minister of Defence read the bill of fare on board Transport 49, which of fare on board Transport 49 which had previously been brought into question by Mr. Poole From thi> he claimed that the food supplied to the men was of excellent quality. He moved that the paper be printed, Mr. Poole said he had no complaint to find with the food supplied. His point was the remarks alleged to have been made by the officer commanding on Transport 49 to the men when they were brought before him, after they had presented a memorial regarding some grievances which they wished adjusted Such remarks should not have been malfe' by any officer, even if he had been hanging with Victoria Crosses from his scalp to the soles of his feet. The Minister had made no answer to that point. Mr. .1. McCombs read a letter to the the House from a trooper on board Troopship 49, in which lie said that after tl'e ship left Albany the food given to the men was scandalous. He then detailed an interview with the officer commanding, who he described as speaking to the men in a "hellish rage.*' Mr. Allen moved that the letter be laid on the table.

Mr. W. A. Veitch expressed the hope that a man would not be penalised because of the fact that lie had written a letter. It would be most unfair to leave this man at the mercy of an officer whom he had criticised. The matter was so serious that the Government should make an immediate enquiry, and both officer and man should be brought back to the country for that purpose.

Mir. L. M. Isitt a-sked if the man was not guilty of a military offence in writing the letter.

The Minister replied that the complaint should have been m*de through the officcer commanding, Mr. Masaey said he knew nothing of the officer referred to personally, but he had heard most favorable accounts of him. He read a letter from a trooper on Transport 4i), in which he said thev were having an excellent time, the "tucker" being good and hot salt water baths provided. What the merits of the case were he could not say, but the matter could not rest where it was. A full enquiry must be made, and if anyone was at fault the punishment should be made equal to the crime

Mr. J. Colvin said he knew the officer in question. He was an excellent officer and a truthful man, but he had been seriously wounded, and this wound might have affected his mind. At the fame time it must be remembered that ,the whole of our officers were good men. There were just ns pood men in the ranks as amongst the officers, and they should be protected.

Mr. C. E. Statham said he was afraid that if the letter were laid on the table an injustice might be done to the writer who, if not bro; tt back, would be unliblo to defend himself.

Mr. A. H. Hindnmrsh suggested the setting up of a secret parliamentary committee to enquire into the charges made. Ministers always favored officers und those higfy in office. Mr. Allen: That is a most unfai statement.

Mr. Hindmnrsh: Well, what did' yo expend over £SO on a .transport for tho convenience of Lady Godley for? Mr. Allen, in repjy, said the New Zealand Government was under contract to return Lady Godley and other officers' wives to England, and the go ng of the transport \va9 a favorable opportunity to do so. He >van not aware of any special expense incurred in Lady God/ ley's interests, but he would have a return prepared. When this matter of charges concerning transport 41) was first brought np, ho asked for the name of the writer of (he letter read by Mr. "pole, but Mr. Poole refused. The letter just read would he laid 011 the table, and bp would give the House his assnrmice that the writer would not suffer by any action of his. The officer'* name had been mentioned, but not till to-dav, i.or had he been defended, and he should have the same treatment ns the private He could not give a premise that both men would be brought back, hut the fullest enquiry would be made. Tho matter of transports was a most difficult proposition, and, if laxity of administration crept in, both officers and '"en would suffer. His duty was to hold the balance fairly between the (fleers and men, and he intended to do hi" duty in that respect. Ho regretted that charges like this were flung on the floor of the House without proper 'v.quiry, He did not say there wns wver cause for complaint on board transports. Some of the soldiers would complain, but thousands did not. Tn this case he could projnise that tho fullest investigation would be held and ' that no one would improperly suffer because of his association with the charges. Mr. McCombs, at this point, laid on the table (unsigned) copies of the trooper's letter, and of the petition which was presented to tho officer com- ' manding Troopship 4(1. The Minister of Defence pointed out that neither document had any sijtn» tures.