AUCKLANDERS' VIEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25301, 7 September 1945, Page 9

AUCKLANDERS' VIEWS

COMPLAINTS EXAGGERATED AN OFFICER'S COMMENTS The opinion that the complaints about the conditions on the liner Orion, which brought servicemen from England to New Zealand, were exaggerated, was expressed by a number of men who returned to Auckland yesterday in a draft of repatriated prisoners of war. These men were included among the 1337 New Zealauders who travelled on the ship. Most of the men approached yesterday considered the ship was overcrowded. but in this respect believed it was no worse than any other troopship. The prices in the canteen were the standard ones. There were some who complained, but generally they were mild in their comments, and did not appear to be seriously aggrieved about the conditions. Most of these confined themselves to saying that the food and accommodation were "not too good." Orowded ior Officers and Men "The action of the men in walking off the ship was unjustified," said Captain H. L. Aiekin, of. 5 Takutai Street. Parnell, who returned with the draft. "They did not give the ship a tert. but stayed on board only one night while cargo was being loaded." The ship was crowded for both officers and men. lie was in a single-berth cabin with seven others, while 64 naval officers shared one small cabin. However, when the Orion was transporting American troops it took more than 7000 of them at a time, compared with 4800 on this trip. "Most of the men took the correct attitude to the situation," contined Captain Aiekin. "They realised that shipping was difficult and appreciated the fact that such a large ship could be made available to bring eo many home." High Prices lor Luxury Lines The food was monotonous, as it always was at sea, but it \vas varied from fish and bully beef by sausages, and such like, and by roast beef occasionally. The ship was quite clean, and had just been overhauled before the men boarded her. The ventilation system was good, and the men were allowed the use of the decks for sleeping as far as possible. He pointed out that a quick trip of 27 days was made. An Air Force officer said he under stood that regulation space was allowed for each man on the ship. There was little entertainment on the boat, and there was little room for sports. In the canteen prices for luxury lines were high, but other prices seemed reasonable. SOIL EROSION MENACE POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND It was not widely recognised by the public that soil erosion on a scale to warrant national concern occurred on two-thirds of the occupied area of New Zealand, said Mr C. L. Gillies, lecturer in agriculture at the Auckland Teachers' Training College, in an address to tho Auckland Botanical Society. Although this country had not experienced the salutary lesson of dust storms oil the scale of Australia and America, soil losses in New Zealand through water erosion were, he considered, proportionately greater. Referring to efforts at conservation in New Zealand, Mr Gillies mentioned the case of a South Island high-country station occupying about 750,000 acres. Here the Lands and Survey Department had taken over an area rendered derelict, h.v 80 years of wrong treatment. By a policy of spelling the country, controlled grazing and no burning the department bad brought the land back into profitable production.