THE DRAYTON GRANGE SCANDAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 15

THE DRAYTON GRANGE SCANDAL

the federal inquiry, the federal Commission. LONDON, August 12. The Imperial Government are appoint- , ing representatives to co-operate with tho Australasian Commissions to inquire into the condition of the Drayton Grange and Britannic, i MELBOURNE, August 13. Colonel Williams, of the medical service, Senator Playford, Dr Gresswell, and Mr A. M'Lean and Mr D. Thomson (members of tae Federal House of Representatives) have been appointed a commission to inquire into the condition of the Draytou. Grange. Another trooper is dead. August 14. Two more of the Drayton Grange troopers are dead.

SYDNEY, August 16

The Royal Commission appointed by the Federal Government opened the inquiry into the Drayton Grange overcrowding charges. The naval transport officer testified that the arrangements had been carried out in accordance with the Admiralty regulations. There was not an excess number of troops carried, but the ship was in a very dirty condition. Dr Shields gave evidence that notmore than 75 per cent, of those carried should have been '•hipped. The ventilation was bad. The sickness, to a large extent, could be traced to want of exercise and good sleeping accommodation. The hospital accommodation was by no means sufficient. Many men who should have been in hospital could not be received. The medical officers were insufficient. There were no nurse«. He admitted the ship was dirty and the habits of some of the men most objectionable. This, and, to a certain extent, want of discipline, helped to contribute to the sickness. He had advised that the sick should be landed at Albany in order to save their lives, but his advice was disregarded.

August 17

The transport officer stated that the 'tween and lower deck were filthy sometimes. The scuppers were blocked with filth. He knew of no defect in the ship herself that would contribute to the sicKness.

The Medical Officer (Dr Shields) said the men used the scuppers instead of the latrines at night, and created a very dangerous condition of things. At one time 500 beds could have been filled with patients. The medicines were mostly useless, being tonics and suchlike, and ran short before they were three-quarters of the way to Albany. There" was an active spirit of insubordination. Much of the filthy state of the ship could not bo prevented because of tho lack of discipline. Intoxicants were obtained too freely. There was illicit selling aboard. The officers tried to put it down, but it flourished throughout tiie voyage. August 18.

At the Drayton Orange inquiry Captain Bennett, the master, examined, said he did not know the exact number aboard. Approximately they were paid for 1940 and 41 officers. He believed .there were a number of stowaways. He considered there was ample sleeping, latrine, and lavatory accommodation and ventilation. The men insisted in closing the ports at night against the rules. He attributed a large amount of the sickness to the uncleanly habits of a number of the men. They maliciously destroyed the shower baths and electric lamps. The troops were half the time in a state of semi-mutiny, and were a most insubordiuate lot. The officers and everybody else had the utmost dif&culty in handling them. He believed had the officers gone to the extreme and arrested some thore would have been opeu mutiny. His remarks applied to the great majority. There was a lot of drinking aboard. Some of tho officers were guilty of excesses in this direction. He mentioned that the New Zealand troops taken to the Ca.De iv the vea&fil

had the same hammock space and messI ing and provisions as on the present j voyage.

The second officer (Mr Blay) deposed

j that there was a large amount of drunkenness and gambling. The latter I was openly permitted. His evidence was I similar to the captain's in reference to [ the ship not being overcrowded and I the dirty habits and insubordination of a number of the men.

The second officer considered that if tho officers had exercised more authority early in the voyage things would have gone much more orderly, and they would not have had so much trouble. The sickness was just one of those epidemics which will break out among a large body of men.

The third officer said he had sailed in vessels carrying New Zealand troops who had no more room in proportion, but there was discipline, and consequently no trouble. He asserted there was much laxity on the part of the military officers, and a lot of drunkenness amongst the men.