THE PORT MELBOURNE SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1919, Page 4

THE PORT MELBOURNE SCANDAL.

ALLEGED MUDDLING. Auckland, March 7. A telegram was despatched by the Mayor to the Minister of Defence as follows: "I regret to complain on behalf of soldiers as well as next of kin and the citizens about the continued muddle of the Defence authorities with regard to the landing of returning drafts. The boarding arrangements in connection with the 'Port Melbourne were completed on the ship. After full investigation of responsible officers returning to-day, I am satisfied that such was effectively done, and the men paid up to March IS in accordance with orders Issued on sailing. Owing to continued Jack of co-or-dination between the Home and local authorities, which should not eisst after three years' experience of returning drafts, all this work had been abaodpned. A second hoarding has been attempted here, with the result that the* soldiers are reasonably and extremely dissatisfied, and have in considerable numbers broken from the ship, causing confusion and disturbing the arrangements. In spite of repeated requests and your undertaking to endeavor to have this work done on the voyage the muddle continues, and undue delay was occasi ioned to the men yesterday, who, it ap« pears, quite without warrant, were subjected to 24 hours' useless detention under guise of quarantine. I respectfully suggest that these conditions call for your urgent action with the view of remedying them and removing tho causes of dissatisfaction to soldiers and citizens alike."

Candid criticism of the regulations in connection with the quarantining of vessels arriving at this port from abroad was uttered by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gun son). His remarks were the outcome of the arrival of the Port Melbourne with returned troops. "I think it is quite time that some objection was made in the public interest against the absurd and useless restriction as to 24 hours' quarantine on clean ships," said Mr Gunson, "Everyone admits there is need for the utmost precautionary measures, but comraonsense must be introduced. If a ship is slean, what earthly use is 24 hours' quarantine, particularly when the vessel had been out three weeks from port, and has been clean throughout that period? If the ship has sickness on board one may with equal reason ask what use is 24 hours' quarantine? Under latter conditions the ship ow'ht to be quarantined for a well recognised period. In the interests of soldiers returning by the Panama route, of whom there are over a thousand on some ships, it is quite time that the unnecessary delay ceased and incompetent control removed."

DEFENCE MINISTER'S" REPL*. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedio, Last Night. In reply to a complaint by the Mayor of Auckland regarding the arrangements concerning the disembarkation of the Port Melbourne's draft, the Minister i>f Defence promised to make an inquiry. Ho states that he hesitate* to accept the statement about the unnecessary boarding and the muddle without being aspired, but steps will be taken to ascertain all the fact* He expresses surprise at the statement that without warrant the men were subjected to twentyfour hours' useless detention under guise of quarantine Tn view of the disastrous result in Auckland especially, and because influenza had been on the troopship, and with the advice of the responsible officers of the Health Department, he asks if Mr. Gunson suggests that it is unwise to take precautions against another outbreak of the epidemic. The matter will be discussed with the , Minister of Health on Sir James Allen's return to Wellington.