THE TROOPSHIP BRITANNIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2525, 6 August 1902, Page 29

THE TROOPSHIP BRITANNIC.

THE QUESTION OF OVERCROWDING

(From Our Own CoiiHEeroxDiA'T )

WELLINGTON, August 4

There is a good deal of comment here about the overcrowding on the troopship Britannic and the consequent insanitary conditions that prevailed. One of the cases sent to thp hospital (Trooper John Thomas, aged 21, hailing from Doyleeton, Canterbury) died in the institution la*t night from continued fever contracted in South Africa. This was one of the worst eaeea on board, and the man's condition was very serious when he was admitted to the hospital. In view of the condition of affairs represented to have existed on board tho troopship when she came into port, the Post has instituted some inquiries. It states that the ship had on board at the time of arrival some 1017 men of various contingents, and a crew of 158. A number of troopers had previously been landed in Australia. During the voyage three deaths occurred on the vessel, in each case from pneumonia. Thoce who boarded the vessel officially when she came into port admit that she was a full bhip, but whether ehe was overcrowded is a matter best known to the authorities under whose control she was despatched. To the casual onlooker she apparently was overcrowded. As regards the conditions which existed in the ship's hospital, we have (says the Post) the opinion of a. gentleman who went over the vessel on her arrival that the accommodation was not good. The hospital was stuffy, badly ventilated, and overcrowded. The number of eases in hospital when the Britannic came into port was 55, mostly measles, for which men were sickening daily. This epidemic naturally led to a congestion of space, and the ordinary hospital accommodation had to be largely supplemented. Even as it wap, men were lying about under conditions which, though perhaps unavoidable under the circumstances, were certainly not fa\ourable. It was almost impossible in some cases, so our informant states, to get about between the beds. There were five medical men on the bhip } three at lea&t of whom were on active duty when the vasbel arrived. There were, however, no nurses, and hospital duty in this respect was performed by orderlies, who left the ship as soon a-s she came in. The attendance on the sick does not appear to have been sufficient, possibly owing to the fact that the accommodation was limited, and the epidemic was unexpected, as it developed feuddenly. Many of the troopers by the Britannic assert that the accommo dation on board was altogether inadequate. The vessel left Durban with about 1500 men on board, including tho Kighth Contingent. About 200 were lauded at Williamstown. The New Zcalanders state that the voyage was a most unpleasant one owing to the vessel being too crowded. They say they were prepared to rough it, but they did not expect that they would be packed like sardines. Many of them were suffering from the after-effects of measles and fever, and to them a journey under the circumstances stated by our informants must hme been exceedingly try ing. It is also asserted that the victualling of the ship was not what it should have been. Complaints have been made that tho quality of some of the articles served out for consumption was moet inferior It is also stated that there wiii- an insufficiency of food.

This morning a large number of Auck land troopers, who left the ship in Wellington because they considered that they had not been fairly treated on board, waited on the Minister of Defence, anil as-ked for free passes to tlieir hoiße=.- The Minuter pointed out that the men were being brought back by the Imperial authorities, but lie- promised to see what he could do to meet their wishes. It is stated that a question is to be asked about the matter in Parliament when the House meets to-morrow afternoon