FRENCH LEAVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16710, 2 June 1916, Page 3

FRENCH LEAVE

A RECALCITRANT OFFICER. (From Our Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 1. A further question relating to alleged breaohes of the quarantine regulations in connection with the transport Willoohra was put to-day by Mr Poole, who said that ho had received a telegram from Mr W. Belcher, stating that the Minister, in his previous reply, had been incorrect in stating that thore had been no difference between tno officers and crew of the steamer. The Hon. G W. Russolf replied that the matter fiad been inquired into, and it had been shown that a great deal of responsibility attached to the chief engineer of the Willochrh., . and it was only because tho department desired to prevent an important change in the position of chief engineer of the vessel that tho officer had not been dealt with according to law. It was this officer who had broken quarantine, and ho had also advised a junior officer to do the same. Tho matter was in the hands of the department, and no doubt when the veesel returned suitable measures would bo taken to <3eal wit.li the man according to law. The only other case in which anyone had been allowed to leave the Willochra was that of one of Hie men, who was permitted to go to Wellington in order to see his eister, who was dying. This man, however, was only allowed to leave the ship after a careful examination showing that he had boon successfully vaccinated. Otherwise the quarantine regulations had been carried out strictly and without any differentiation.