FOOD ON TROOPSHIP 49.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14128, 3 July 1916, Page 2

FOOD ON TROOPSHIP 49.

'An'official reply has been issued by the Hon. Janr.es Allen, Minister of D"efence, in .reply to the, allegations made regarding the victualling, of soldiers and n.c.o,'s of the Eleventh Reinforcements on troopship .49., ..and other-mat-ters relating to their treatment. "In the first place," says the Minister, "I may say the transports are all_ victualled" for their voyages on the ■same scale, and the food supplied has been excellent throughout. Very, few complaints have been made, and the majority of these have been found to have little foundation in fact. From time to time n.inor improvements have been made on the vessels, as .found" to be advisable by the responsible officers, with aj-viej? to eliminating any possibility of food deteriorating. It will, of course, be recognised that, "owing to the route through the tropics, and the inability to obtain fresh supplies daily or at short intervals, there is, always a remote possibility of some deterioration; hut all ships carry medical officers, and I am quite confident no unpalatable food is forced on the men, as this complaint would lead those not conversant with the conditions to be--lieve.

"As regards the vessel and voyage in question,', the official report of the ship's quartermaster/ rendered to the Department in. mediately on return of the transport to the Dominion, states, as regards the food supply: 'Taking it all round, the food was of good quality, and the men were well catered for in this respect, and complaints were few. We had "a-much, better, result with regard to bread. This is attributed to the change made in receiving-locker, which allows for good ventilation and even temperature. Ten cases of fresh and seven cases of smoked trout were placed ,on board from the Minister of Internal Affairs. The smoked fish turned out excellent, and was in good condition throughout. The fresh fish proved a failure, and several cases were tried with the same result, and, as they smelt very bod 3 on lxedical advice they were thrown overboard. A similar supply of fish was placed on the/Companion ship, and the master of the latter makes the following reference to same in his voyage report: 'The messing of officers, troops, and crew has been very satisfactory throughout the whole voyage, and lib complaint has been received from any | section, if the complaint of one company of troops on the north-going passage be excepted. A portion of trout, placed on board by the Minister of Internal Affairs, was served for breakfast once. The unaccustomed flavour of this delicacy appears to have engendered the suspicion in members of this company that they were being 'fobbed off' with 'bad fish.' The statement thai meat in an unwholesome condition was served up quite a number of times may, I think, be fairly termed exaggeration at the least. Very great care is taken in regard to the nveat supplies, which, of course, except fresli treat for immediate consumption,, are naturally frozen. All meat is kept it the ship's refrigerating chambers which, to prevent any likelihood oi varying temperature, are placed sole ly in the charge of the respective engineers, and are permitted to be open ed for withdrawal of meat requirec only once daily. Officers Commandini Troops, in conjunction with ir. asters

and medicai oAcers, . have power to vary' the diet of \tlie men. TChe fo«d is of the best possible quality, and there' is no restriction aa to. quantity." •" _ - - " •

In a speech in the Hduse of Representatives, Mr T. A. H. Field (Nelson) asked the House and the public, to suspend their judgment in regard t<> th:» accusations made against Major Brereiofi until they'had heard the other side of the question. IJo knew Major Brereton 'personally, «& said, and liad spoken with a great many men who had fought under him, sailed under him, and returned under his charge, ana they all spoke in the highest terras of fcim as ay very gallant officer and a go'ntleman. Major Brereton was in charge of, the Nelson men at the landing, at the u taking of the Turkish trenches at Nelson Hill, and also (a,t fho "Daisy Patch," where he was wounded;. and every man reported that he was qi:ite a gentleman to the men iincler him,, and had shown for them quite a'paternal,- care. .