A CHALLENGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26693, 12 February 1948, Page 6

A CHALLENGE

CRITICISM DEPLORED CONDITIONS IN SHIP IMMIGRANTS INDIGNANT The indignation of the immigrants at the Central Battery barracks St. Kilda, has been aroused by Dr Harro Bernardelli’s criticism of the conditions in the ship Rangitata. Dr Bernardelli and a number of the immigrants travelled from London to Wellington in the Rangitata, and Dr Bernardelli's remarks were published in the Daily Times yesterday. Three of the immigrants who travelled in the Rangitata, when interviewed last evening, said that they, on behalf of all the immigrants in the ship were anxious to deny all of Dr Bernardelli’s allegations. They challenged Dr Bernardelli to prove his statements. “Anyone who has been in the services, as all of us here have, would have been delighted with the conditions under which we travelled in the Rangitata,’’ declared Mr W. Peachman, who came from Fifeshire. “ What will the people at Home think when they read the ill-chosen words of Dr Bernardelli? ” he asked. “He should have travelled in a troopship during the war to appreciate shipboard conditions. We men are indignant at his unfounded allegations. When we embarked, we were informed that we would be travelling under austerity conditions. Those of us who know what austerity conditions in Britain are really like, Were thrilled with everything we found. There was a great deal more than we had ever expected.” Mr M. J. Green, who came from Yorkshire, said there was no disease among the passengers. One had died during the voyage, but he was a sick man when he left England. Two children were suffering from impetigo but that complaint did not spread. Mr Green said that he could not understand why Dr Bernardelli had made such remarks. “We had every comfort and were shown every consideration,” said Mr W. Hughes, formerly of Yorkshire. “ We had full freedom in the ship and there were even stewards to make our beds. What would the other boys who fought in France and the desert say to that? There was plenty of food. . . .” “ Eggs four times a week,” Mr Peachman interrupted. “At home we