THE MAKURA’S PASSENGERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18876, 31 May 1923, Page 8

THE MAKURA’S PASSENGERS.

THE QUARANTINE PERIOD. COMPLAINTS AND DR HUGHES’S REPLY. (Peh United Press Association.) AUCKLAND May 30. The complaints by the Makura’s Australian passengers cabled from Sydney are probably of the same nature as those communicated by through passengers to a resident of Auckland. In a letter the passenger stated that the prevalency of mud and cattle droppings about the buildings made matters unpleasant for women and children, and indicated that there has been no recent inspection and clean-up of the promises. As further evidence of this the writer added the cooking stove was found to bo choked up, and meat put. into it overnight was not cooked by the following morning, and that the blankets in stock showed indications of mouldiness. He also stated that the organisation of the catering services was inadequate, resulting in an occasional shortage, caused by the spoiling of supplies by rain. In an interview the medical officer of health (Dr Hughes) stated that complaint had been received concerning the cattle droppings. The island was partly under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural" Department, and cattle and sheep were allowed to graze near the buildings to keep down the grass. A certain amount of difficulty was experienced with regard to one stove, but two other stoves were available, and further assistance was given directly any difficulty was reported A caretaker was always in charge of the buildings and the blankets wore overhauled by him. The chief difficulty was damage by moths, and special means were taken to obviate this as much as possible, this giving rise to a not objectionable odour in the blankets. We hear of increased discomforts of the passengers, but the buildings were for temporary accommodation only. Certain complaints received on the second day were attended to at once. The Director-General visited the island last Thursday, and received no complaints. The Union Company carried out the catering, and no complaints were received by the departmental officials concerning this.