TRANSPORT SCANDALS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7545, 21 August 1902, Page 2

TRANSPORT SCANDALS.

ACCOUNTS STATED TO BE EXAGGERATED.

Auckland, August 20. Troopers ex Britannic complain that though many of them offered to give evidence before the Royal Commission, no reply was received. They state that of the fourteen deaths after the BrUan* nio arrived in New Zealand, eleven occurred in the No. 3 and No. 4 lower troop decks, occupied by the Auckland squadrons. They consider it important to have their statements taken. Thames, August 20. Several Thames troopers who returned by the Orient state that much exaggerated accounts have been published as to the state of affairs on board the boat. They state that beyond the fact that food was not of the best, though it could not be called bad, and the sleeping accommodation being scarcely sufficient, there was nothing to cavil at. If the boat was dirty in places, the principal fault was the neglect of troopers to do their duty, and keep the Bhip clean. Received August 20, 10.25 p.m. Sydney, August 20.

At the inquiry, Captain Fullerton, one of the medical officers on the Drayton Grange, considered there were sufficient doctors, and that there was no lack of essential drugs up to the time they reached Albany. The point was that there bad been a phenomenal outbreak of sickness. The primary cause of sickness was infection, brought aboard amongst such a large body of men. It never struck him that the vessel was particularly dirty, though it was not a clean ship. The men were not a very clean lot.

Colonel Lyster, recalled, said the men made every effort daily to keep the decks clean. He formed the opinion that Dr Shields was nervous, and not able to meet the extraordinary condition of affairs. Witness had the same opinion about the captain of the steamer, who hurried away from Durban before bis time. Received August 21, 0.23 a.m. Sydnby, August 20. Two more of the Drayton Grange troopers died in hospital. Received August 21, 1.8 a.m.

Sydney, August 20. At the Drayton Grange inquiry, Lieutenant-Colonel Carrington, commanding the Third Bushmen, in evidence, said the conduot of the men aboard was excellent. It was absolutely impossible to carry out the regulations, owing to the want of deck space. Nothing could possibly be better than their discipline.

Other officers commanding units gave similar evidence, and a denial of insubordination. They also declared that the men regularly and effectively cleaned the decks.

THE NEW ZEALAND INQUIRY.

Wellington, August 20.

The Commission of Inquiry into allegations concerning the condition of the troopships Britannic and Orient has examined several of the officers in charge of the troops on those ships. Over fifty witnesses have offered to give evidence.