31

H.—6c.

F. DEBENHAM.I

304. Do you think they would get a pound of bread a day ?—Yes, perhaps they would get a pound. 305. And biscuits?— Well, there was a barrel of biscuits put down on the troop-deck, and the men could get them when they wished. 306. They could get biscuits whenever they liked ?—Yes. 307. Was the bacon of good quality ?—Yes, sir. 308. About the question of the latrines running over the fish : were the men obliged to eat that fish or throw it overboard and starve ?—The majority of them refused to eat it. 309. Did they make any complaint about it ?—Yes, sir. 310. And was it remedied? —It was substituted by bully beef. 311. And because some filth got on the fish the men were given other food instead?— Yes, sir. 312. Did this happen on more than one occasion?— Yes, sir. 313. Were they on each occasion given bully beef, or what?— Yes, sir, I think so. 314. There was discomfort rather than hardship in that matter?— Yes. 315. The men had not to go empty on account of it ?—No, sir. 316. You say that complaints were made, but no notice was taken?— Yes, sir. 317. By complaints do you mean official reports, or merely the discontent which we all have at times at our meals?— Merely discontent. 318. Were the officers neglectful of the interests of their men ?—I think on some occasions they were. Ido not think they reported the complaints. 319. Just let us have one, so that we may pursue it further? —I never took any particular notice or put a date down. We complained about the food, and the officers said, "We will do what we can ; we do not think we can do much," and perhaps we would hear no more about it; they would let it pass by. 320. Was the same fault repeated next day—that is, if you complained of bad meat, was bad meat served the next day ?—Different rations were served to us day by day, and perhaps the men liked the next day's ration, and did not complain. 321. Then, you say the officers were neglectful. I would like you to substantiate that in some way or another so that we can see how they were to blame ?—On some occasions we complained, and the complaints were attended to. There were a lot of plates broken, and we complained to one of the officers and we were given some in place of them. But in some cases there was no remedy whatever made by the officers. I did not take any particular notice of dates, as I did not think it was so important. 322. Mr. McNab.] What age are you ?—Twenty-two. 323. What was your occupation previous to enlisting ?—Saddler. 324. Did you ever live in a tent ? —Yes, sir. 325. For how long ?—Well, prior to my enlistment I was in camp a week with the North Canterbury Battalion. 326. Outside of that, did you ever live in a tent ?—No, I do not think so. 327. You have never done any camping-out ?—Very little, sir. 328. What steamer did you go to South Africa in ?—ln the " Cornwall." 329. How long were you on the voyage ?—Five weeks. 330. How long in South Africa ?—About three months and a half. 331. You then came back in the " Britannic " ?—Yes, sir. 332. You were another four weeks on board ?—I think about four weeks. 333. What were you doing in South Africa ? —We took part in a drive with Sir lan Hamilton's force. 334. How long were you in fixed camp in South Africa, and not engaged in the drive ?—I did not reckon up. 335. How long were you in the drive ?—About a month or five weeks from the time we left Klerksdorp. 336. Out of five months that you were on service, over two months was spent at sea ?— Yes, sir. 337. And another two months in a stationary camp ? —Yes, sir. 338. When you were coming back were you fairly tired of the climate and the steamer life ? —No, I was rather fond of the climate on the veldt—in fact, it agreed with me immensely. 339. Better than the steamer? —Yes, I was in better health in every way. 340. The steamer life did not agree with you ?—I am a good sailor, ] was never sick; but I think it was the accommodation, food, and one thing and another, that affected me. 341. Were you ever in the hospital?—No, sir. 342. Were you passed as medically fit when you left the steamer? —Yes. 343. When did you get that cough ?—I caught cold soon after I left Durban : I never went to the doctor with it. Some of the men who had colds went to the doctor, and the medicine they got did not do them much good. 344. Through your not taking advantage of medical treatment on board do you not think you would get into a low condition and be apt to complain of your meals ?—No, I do not think so. 345. Do you not think a man suffering from a cold or a chest complaint, and not taking medical advice, would be more apt to complain of the tariff on board the steamer than a man who had got proper medical treatment? —Yes; looking at it in that light. 346. Might not some of your complaints be due to the fact that you were not in proper fettle yourself? —No; I do not think it was due to that. 347. Although you admit you took a cold, and you did not report yourself to the doctor?— Yes, sir.