TRANSPORT CONDITIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1710, 29 December 1919, Page 6

TRANSPORT CONDITIONS.

', •;, Intense ■ V many;-soldiers; : who', mtnrhed ■ .'-to■iNviw' ••• 1 Zealand transport It'u'ahine -concerning the_ food and accommodation during the voyage (*ays the Auckland Herald). ' The dm ft; was mainly composed of first and second-class warrant officers, who were entitled to secondclass accommodation. The port of embarkation ivii • Torbay, England, and immediately those troops who were supposed t<> be provided with, second-class accommodation saw tlipir quarters, which consisted of open steerage in Nos. 4 and C holds, with mess .tables in the centre of the sleeping quarters, a largo number walked off the ship to fhe tender, and refused to go on board"again! The men were addressed by embarkation officers, and after a good deal of discus.siou tnojr returned to the transport. .'After leaving Torbay complaints regard- ' .J ing the cooking, the sen ing, and . the, ; quality-of tic food, which .wa.i.stated, to' •- bo much below ..second-class standard,; I ,$ werje • a r . dajl.V;- l : e/itiiro'of?;Jife.ioni'bpiird.) ' Little -coi'dd 'be done, however,' to im- . prove ma'..''i'i, .on account of the ship's staff being insufficient, and the facilities for cooki-jg being below requirements. On arrival a; Capetown the matter was reported to the naval transport officer, 1 . with the object of getting an unbiassed opinion regarding it. A court of in-; •yiuiry was sot up. and the .findings are' •to bo reported t:. the Ktw Zevland eminent. The qMarten;, mess ar:'a'\:"inents and food Allocated to the third-class passengers were, the same as fur the. secoud- ' (class. The complaints were ij'-jibjiif./l by wireless to the New Zealand r-e, ntive o> the Returned Soldiers' A'.- i '.'.•ion and when the Rnaltine berthed : • Aurkhirirtl mn Christnias morning the ; -mUI ••' and executive id' the Auckland !••-•" ! ' -qui oil board for the purpose if in■...• Ligat-