THE PORT MELBOURNE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 9

THE PORT MELBOURNE

ALLEGED CAUSE OF TROUBLE

STATEMENT BY DEFENCE

AUTHORITIES.

(mt TEIEGRAPH.—PEESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 7th March.

Regarding the telegram. despatched by the-Mayor to the Minister of Defence complaining " on behalf of the soldiers, as well as tho next-of-kin and the citizens, about the continued muddle of the Defence authorities with regard to the landing of returning drafts," a statement setting forth the point of view of the local Defence authorities was made by Captain E.- J. Browning,, Assistant Adjutant-General, on behalf of Colonel H. R. Potter, commanding the district. He said that on Wednesday evening a wireless message was received from the officer commanding the troops on the Port Melbourne to' the effect that the whole of the medical boarding and the issue of certificates and travelling warrants had been completed, and that at the conclusion of the quarantine period the troops could be landed, without delay. The local Defence- authorities, in order to satisfy themselves that the medical boarding had been completed satisfactorily, sent an officer to the ship as soon 3|S possible after her arrival, and he obtained the whole of the files of the men en board. These were scrutinised, and it was at , once seen that the New Zealand requirements had not been met in many respects, chough excellent work had been performed by the members of the ship's staff, who had carried out the instructions received before leaving England to the letter. Colonel Potter secured the services of a voluntary staff with tho intention of endeavouring to put the men's''papers in order, so that no delay would\take place in disembarkation, but it was found that the men would have to be individually dealt with on arrival in order that the necessary adjustments could be made. It was therefore decided that the men should be medically reboarded in Auckland. Otherwise the utmost confusion would have prevailed. Captain Browning said that in Wellington a voluntary boarding staff wae permitted to carry out its work during the period of quarantine. A similar request had been made to the Auckland Health authorities, and had been declined on the ground that there was no authority for allowing such a course. Representations were then made by Colonel Potter to the Health authorities in Wellington, with a view to obtaining permission for a voluntary staff to work during part of the quarantine period, so that when the transport berthed on Friday morning the men could be dismissed at once. This suggestion could not be carried into effect, as the local, Health authorities had been instructed to take certain health precautions before any communication was allowed with persons on shore. All that, therefore remained was for the boarding to be carried out after the ship berthed. The apparent delay complained of by the men was occasioned by the ship's staff failing to parade the men ,in the order in which the Medical Board papers had been arranged. A voluntary staff was ready to commence work at 8 a.m. When the boarding did actually commence the work was done in record time, approximately 900 men being (lealt with in four hours.