THE YOIZUKI REPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1946, Page 7

THE YOIZUKI REPORT

FILTHY. CONDITION OF SHIP PASSENGERS BLAMED CANBERRA, March 20. The report of the investigation committee on the Japanese repatriation ship Yoizuki, tabled in Parliament this afternoon, says that the vessel carried an overload of 57 persons. The overloading was due to a desire not to separate family groups or leave in Australia a small number of Formosans. “It is difficult to find words adequately to describe the filthy conditions on the ship,” continues the report. The conditions were caused by the unwillingness of passengers to collaborate with the crew in cleaning the vessel.

Thirty-two stretcher cases were embarked, including six women, and one case of dysentery. The sick were accommodated in a deck superstructuie of two layers, with four feet three inches between the layers. The passengers did not complain of ill-treatment. The food was ample. Lavatory accommodation was satisfactory. Medical equipment and drugs were adequate, and there were four doctors on board, including one Japanese. The fresh water allowance was only just sufficient. The committee found that the standard of accommodation was equivalent to the standard the Japanese provided for their own personnel. On this voyage the number carried should have been limited to 800, and luggage should have been restricted to hand luggage. At least half t,he family groups would have chosen to go on with the ship rather than risk delay. The total number disembarked at Rabaul was 352 men, women, and children. All male members of families were included. The report disclosed that after the disembarkation port officers were instructed to ship a sufficient number of male Formosans to bring the number back to 948. On the intervention of the committee they agreed to drop the number to 800. The Yoizuki is fitted with wireless, which the Japanese operator is unable to operate through ignorance. The people are allowed five pints of water a day. The refrigerator was in order at Rabaul, and fresh meat was available there. The crew’s quarters were clean and neat, but the passengers’ accommodation was filthy.