TROUBLE ON TRANSPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1919, Page 6

TROUBLE ON TRANSPORT.

ANGRY NEW ZEALANDERS. DISSATISFIED N.C.O.'s CLAIM ON GOVERNMENT. Conditions at the outset of the voyage of the transport Ruahine, so far as the N.C.O.'s and their wive 3 were concerned, caused considerable dissatisfaction. After the troops had arrived on board at the port of departure, England, and the second - class • passengers: (N.C.O.'s) had seen their berthing accommodation, a large number—in fact all the single sergeants and several married, sergeants—walked back with their luggage on to the tender, refusing to occupy quarters allotted to them. The ship's adjutant called a parade of all thcrae who were dissatisfied with their accommodation for 4 p.m., when they were addressed by Colonel Hall and Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson. The outcome of the meeting was that Colonel Hall told the men they either had to take the accommodation offered or go back ashore at their own risk of disciplinary action being taken. Immediately after the tender pulled away, leaving the troops and their luggage aboard.

The O.C. troops (Lieutenant-Colonel Sinel, D.5.0., who left New Zealand as captain .with the Main Body), refused to take any active part in this dispute until the men were handed over to him by the embarkation staff. Complaints became so general, and grievances so numerous, that it was considered necessary to appoint delegates on: board, who would be in the position to interview the O.C. troops when necessary. O.C. TROOPS COMMENDED. The delegates commended the O.C. for the fair hearing they were accorded, and for carrying out their wishes wherever I possible. As the voyage progressed better arrangements were made for the messing of the N.C.O.'s and their wives, and the cooking and serving of the food improved. * At Capetown large stores of fresh fruit were taken on board, and this, added to the ship's rations, removed all cause for ■complaint. In regard to the N.C.O.'s accommodation, it was decided to make a claim on the New Zealand Government for a return in full of the passage money paid for wives and dependents of soldiers, and compensation to all warrant officers and sergeants returned to New Zealand under conditions other than those promised and laid in regulations.

SOURCE OF TROUBLE. The chief source of trouble was in the cooking and serving of the food. Bread, butter, sugar, cheese, and potatoes were all of first-class quality, and the quantity supplied was practically ad lib. At the same lime the menu was not an average second-saloon one. There was also some dissatisfaction in regard to the deck-space allotted secondclass passengers, and the O.C. decided that they should have the right to use the first-class portion of the promenade deck along with first-class passengers., This movement was satisfactory to all parties concerned.

MEDICAL OFFICER'S VIEWS. The senior medical officer on board said tin', on tlie whole the conditions were -.Nfaetory, but adds that it would have been bcUer in every respect if the messing and sleeping quarters of the unmarried men could have been in separi ale quarters. Even though every precaution was taken to keep the cubicles as . far away from the messing tables as possible, in many cases they were too near to be altogether pleasant. The ventilation in these quarters was excellent, except during the very few days in which the hatches were battened down.