TROOPS LEAVE TRANSPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1919, Page 5

TROOPS LEAVE TRANSPORT.

DISSATTISFACTION OVER DELAY. DISORDERLY PROCEEDINGS. By Telegraph—Pre3B Association. Auckland, Last Night. Considerable dissatisfaction was shown by the troops on board the transport Port Melbourne at the action of the Defence authorities in ordering them to submit to medical boarding when they disembarked this morning, and'the proceedings were somewhat disorderly. The troops contended that the medical boarding was carried out during the voyage with all correctness as to detail and form, and in compliance with instructions received when the ship left England, and the boarding officers had the assistance of an officer from the New Zealand War Expanses Department (A. S. Houston). Wheu the ship arrived it was stated that certain portions of the boarding had not been done in accordance with the New Zealand requirements, and therefore the men were ordered to be boarded a second time. Intense indignafiim was expressed on the ship, and it was freely remarked that there appeared to be utter lack ot co-ordination between the New Zealand officials in England and the local stall. It was stated that the transport carried very capable boarding officers, and the utmost care was taken with the work, which apparently was now useless.

Wheu news of the intention to board the men a second time was circulated on the ship the position wis regarded as unfortunate, but it was i'.eeepted by all ranks in a philosophical manner, and the troops resolved to enduie what could not be cured. Theif paticm-e. was apparently exhausted, however, by what waß regarded by them as unnecessary delay in commencing the boarding, and they stampeded, with the result that a large number did not pass before the boarding officiTs.

According to i-.rrangtments previously made the Auckland men were disembarked first, and, after descending the gangway, were assembled at the entrance to the 9hed. Incensed by the slow methods adopted, and encouraged by other men who remained on the ship, they forced their way into the shed. A score or so men who had been boarded were assembled at tin far end waiting to be dismissed, when a crowd of men, who had not been boarded, surged into the shed. A number rushed towards the exit, past the officers, and emerged among their next-of-kin. Vanous estimates are given as to the number of men who escaped in this manner, and it is believed there were about 200. The greater proportion returned during the day and were then dealt with by the boarding Btaff. A great many men madf no attempt to escape boarding, and remained in the shed. The southern men, who had not at this timedisembarked from the fliip, began to exhibit a restive spirit, and several forced their way down the gangway on to (lie wha>f. They were, however, detained for boarding. Othe. - men on the ship attempted to lower the vesael's-gangways, but were prevented from doing so by the quartermaster. They then let down a rope ladder, and by this descended to the tvhail. Others again clambered down ropes A quantity of kit was* thrown from the vessel on to the wharf. Subsequently order was restored, and the medical boarding proceeded steadily. As a matter of fact, compared with other ships, the work was carried out fairly expeditiously, and the iast of the southern men were being dealt with by 2.30 p.m.

AN OFFICIAL VERSION. Auckland, Last Night. In connection with the Port Melbourne, a. statement setting forth the point of view of the local Defence authorities was made by Capt. E. J. Browning, assistant Adjutant-General, on behalf of Colonel H. ii. Potter, commanding the district. He said that on Wednesday evening a wire'ass message was received from the officer commanding the troops on the Port Melbourne to the effect that the whole of the medical boarding, issue of certd'eates, and travelling warrants had been completed, and that at the conclusion of the quarantine period the troops could be landed without delay. The local Defence authorities, in order to satisfy themselves that the medical boarding had been completed satisfactorily, sent an officer to the ship as soon as possible after arrival, and-he obtained the whole of the files of the. men on board. These were screutinised, and it was at once seen that New Zealand requirements had not been met in many respects, though excellent work had been performed by members of the ship's staff, who had carried out the instructions received before leaving England to the letter. Colonel Potter secured the services of a voluntary staff with the intention of endeavoring to put the c.en's papers in order so that no delay would take place in disembarkation, but it was found that the men would have to be individually dealt with on arrival in order that the necessary adjustments could be trade. It was, therefore, decided that the 7iien should be medically rebo.irded in Auckland, otherwise the utmost confusion would have prevailed. Capt. Browning said that, in" Wellington, a voluntary boarding staff was permitted to carry out its work during the perku of quarantine. A similar request had been made to the Auckland health authorities, and was declined, on the ground that there was no authority for allowing such a course. Representations were then made by Colonel Potter to the health authorities in Wellington, with a view to obtaining permission for a voluntary staff to wwk during part of the quarantine period, so that when the transport berthed on Friday morning the men could be dismissed at once. This suggestion could not be carried into efl'eci 'as t!ie local health authorities had been instructed to take certain health precautions before any communication was allowed with persons on shore. All that, there'ore, remained was for the boarding 'to be carried out after the ship berthed. The apparent delay complained of by the men was occasioned by the ship's staff failing to parade the. men in the order in which the medical board papers had been arranged. The voluntary staff ■was ready to commence work at 8 a.m., when the boarding did actually commence and the work was done in record time, approximately 900 men being dealt with in four hours.