TRANSPORT SCANDALS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7544, 20 August 1902, Page 2

TRANSPORT SCANDALS.

CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.

Received August 20, 9.5 a.m. Sydnky, August 20. Colonel Lyster made many statements conflicting with those of previous witnesses. He upheld the conduct of the troops, and laid stress on the point that an irregular should not to be controlled by the rigid regulations .under which discipline was foroed upon trained soldSers. He stated he went round and inspeoted the decks with the captain every morning, and found them beautifully clean till the vessel got near Sydney. He characterised jtbe stat menis alleging insubordination as absolutely untrue. It did not ocour to him that the sbip was overcrowded till he got out to sea, and saw the men lying about sick. Fifteen hundred untrained troops was plenty to carry. There was considerable illicit drinking, and it interfered with discipline. AH efforts to find where tbe drink was obtained failed. Witness did not think regulations applied to the existing conditions, nnd be tried to apply common sense. He admitted be had asked Dc Shields to alter his report, because he thought it j extreme and exaggerated, the result of the doctor's inexperience. After reading Dr Shields' evidence before tbe Commission, he thought he ought to have been a very difforent man on the ship to what he was. Received August 19, 10.80 p.m. Sydnky, August 19. Dr. Gillies said the principal medical officer was only appointed on the night she sailed from Durban. Nobody had any authority to do anything. Wit* ness found a bare supply of medioine, and the hospital accommodation was poor. He endorsed the opinion that the uncleanly habits of the men increased the sickness. The want of systematic exercise and the laxity of discipline contributed. Received August 20, 0.22 a.m.

Sydney, August 19, Colonel Lyster, commanding offloer, said he made every attempt to fulfil the regulations, but it was impossible to carry out all details owing to tbe exr oeptionally heavy weather. For a week after leaving nearly all the troops were seasiok, and they could not ask them to do regular duty. The regulations were for fine weather, noc suoh as they had. He considered (he upper deok aooommodatlon totally inadequate* Wellington, August 20. The Commission of Inquiry Into the allegations oonoerning the condition of tbe troopships Brltannio and Orient has examined several of the offioers in charge of the troeps. Over fifty wit* nea«es have offered to give •videnoe.