COMFORT ON TRANSPORTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 15469, 12 March 1919, Page 5

COMFORT ON TRANSPORTS.

AUSTRALIA* SCHEME. Following complaints regarding the conditions under which troops and soldiers' vives have travelled to Australia on transports, the Federal Government sent a cablc message to Mr W. 31. Hughes. Prime Minister, asking him whether he could give his personal attention to the matter. The recent case of the Miltiades was instanced. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr 4V. A. Watt, lias received a cable message from Mr Hughes stating that new arrangements have been made for the despatch of troops; and under thes* the control of transports had been given to the Director-General of Demobilisation. As a result of special instructions given by Mr Hughes 20 per cent, of the shipping accommoda-"{ tion provided under Admiralty rules has • been left vacant to give troops more room and greater comfort. In his instruction to the DirectorGeneral of Demobilisation. Mr Hughes says: "Our men are no longer soldiers in the strict sense of the word; they are citizens of Australia, who, having done their dutyfi are returning to their ov/n country. They should be treated, therefore, as far as is consistent with the maintenance of discipline", as citizens and not as soldiers. Generosity should mark our actions where before strict routine and ironbound regulations sufficed. They should have abundance of food in variety and quantity which tho necessities of war withheld ; they should be amply provided •with games, books, and all those things which go to make a long voyage pjeatsing. But. above all, they should be provided with ample space in which to move. The usual Admiralty regulations, framed to meet the greatest exigencies of war applicable to ehort as well as long distances, cannot be regarded as desirable or applicable in the ' t ircuinstances which now confront us. The Government in this respect request thau 80 per cent, of the space only shall be used. Our men must, return in comfort. Their health, must he more carefully considered: their iourney through the tronics must not be "rendered unbearable by overcrowding; in short, they must be treated with that consideration which ' their groat deeds and many hardships have earned. T look to you not only as head of demobilisation and repatriation, but as a soldier who has known all the hardships and discomforts of war, to assist the Government in a policy, which, while apparently generous in principle, js in practice merely