THE WAIMANA’S MIGRANTS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 165, 9 April 1926, Page 5

THE WAIMANA’S MIGRANTS

ALLEGATIONS REPLIED TO COMPLAINTS STATED TO BE GROUNDLESS A Press Association message from London last week stated that Mr. H. Day, a Labour member, had asked in the House of Commons whether an inquiry would be held into conditions under which migrants were carried in the steamer Waimana to New Zealand. It was alleged that 250 passengers, suffered from bad ventilation; that the food was “abominable”; that 900 passengers were “cramped in ill-ventilated six-berth cabins”; and that there were only nine baths for the whole of the migrants; also that twopence was charged for a glass of water. The Wellington office of the ShawSavill Company state that so far- from any complaints having been received concerning the treatment of the immigrants on the voyage out from England, Captain Andrews, the master of the Waimana., had a laudatory address presented to him on the termination of the trip to New Zealand. “The passengers,” reported Captain Andrews, “assembled on the after deck to wish me farewell; the deck was very crowded; an address was presented to me and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ was sung and cheers given for the captain. The address is signed by the folk who composed the committee elected by the passengers to deal with everything of importance concerning the passengers, including the sports.” The address asked the captain to accept a “small memento” to mark the successful termination of the voyage from Southampton to . New Zealand. Complimentary remarks were made on the skilful navigation and the transport of 350 passengers (men, women, and children) without illness of a serious nature. “That this has been done over a long voyage of six weeks speaks volumes for the general efficiency of your officers, the cleanliness of the ship, and the wholesome bill-of-fare provided.” continued the address. The captain was also thanked for his interest in the sports “and everything pertaining to the welfare of the passengers,” and the address concluded with good wishes and memories of. “the pleasant associations formed during the journey.” The address is signed by the committee. In addition to this testimony to the character of the relations between master and passengers and the accommodation and victualling, the company has received from a passenger a long letter stating that bad weather after leaving Southampton no doubt made things uncomfortable for all on board; but that a few passengers made themselves unpopular just before the. ship reached Panama, and they continued to do so for the rest of the passage. They canvassed other passengers. .to sign blank sheets as to the condition of the ship. When the committee asked the passengers signing these sheets if thev knew what they did thev replied that they thought complaints were being set out to bring before the captain—not for publication. The committee dissociated itself from anything of the kind written, and further had no complaints of any kinfl to make. The “glass of "water for twopence" storv had its origin ..m the sale- (on his own account) of limejui.ee and water bv a steward. This was discontinued ns soon as it became known to those in authority on the ship. The correspondent passenger concluded : I can personally say that there was no cause for complaint of any kind on the Waimana.”