PASSENGERS APPEAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 9

PASSENGERS APPEAL

AUCKLAND RUSH TACTICS INFANTILE PARALYSIS OUTBREAK. The arrival of the Aorangi in Auckland was not the first occasion ii|;on which the general public got out ot hand, and the crush of people on the vessel so disturbed the passengers that the existence of the infantile paralysis outbreak in addition was considered sufficient to justify their appeal to the Shipping Company and the Health Department not to allow the ship to be thrown open at Wellington. ft ■will be remembered that when H.M S. Hood visited Auckland the crowds broke down the barriers, but in Wellington the arrangements in Hi’s direction were very thorough and inching of the kind happened, in !he capital city. The, arrangements tor the public inspection of the Aorangi were equally good, but the passengers were evidently not aware of the control exorcised in Wellington. THE FATEFUL TELEGRAM.

The following telegram was tent to the Shipping Company and the Health Department, signed by several of the principal passengers on behalf of the whole: —■

“View Auckland happenings, also restricted space, also precautions considered necessary on land by health authorities in connection with, infantile paralysis, v c or. bshalf of the passengers absolutely protest against ad mission any persons aboard Aorangi at Wellington except on necessary laziness.”

It was this strong appeal which decided the Union Company, after consultation with the Department of Health, in cancelling the arrangements for the public inspection of the vessel, the result being that the general public have had to remain content with seeing her from the w barf. Nevertheless some of the portholes and doors were open, including the one into the engine room, and! many were able to get an outside view of tbe wonderful Diesel engines which aie designed to create a revolution m the shipping world. DOES NOT BELIE HER DESCRIPTION. Those who were privileged! to go aboard her found that the description of her magnificent apartments, comfort, etc., had not been exaggerated, and, indeed, found many objects of interest which space precluded from being included in tbe general wute-up. The dining and smoke rooms, the cosy lounges, the children’s nursery and the gymnasium were all examined with special interest, while a privileged few were: allowed: to go down to the engine room where they realised the difference between the old and modem shins. The roar of steam furnaces and machinery, grime and dirt., coal dust, tho shovelling of fuel, were all conspicuous by their absence. The men wero not as black "ns niggers nor persniring as they do in steam driven ships, and tho beat below is nothing liko so great. And everything is ns clean as a new pin. even though tho fliip passed through a severe storm after leaving Vancouver.

SHIP’S NEWSPAPER. There is a fully equipped printing press aboard, but owing to the demands upon the services of the staff on such a protracted trip, extending over two months, it was not found possible to issue more than four or five numbers, although wireless news was posted up daily.