TROOPSHIP'S TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 5

TROOPSHIP'S TROUBLES.

THE RUAHTNE COMPLAINTS Since the arrival in New Zealand of the troopship Euaiiine on Christmas Day, various references have been nude to allegations in reference to the conditions that obtained on the vessel during the voyage. The soldiers protested to the military authorities against the accommodation, etc., provided for them; they stated that instead of being given second class accommodation, to which they were entitled, a large number made the passage in third-class troopship quarters. After an investigation the Defence authorities agreed to compensate the men for the inconveniences suffered by them by making an allowance to each man of the sum of £4—the difference between the second and third-class messing fees paid per man to the shipping companies. Many of the statements made, however, were said to be inaccurate and misleading, and with a view to making public the actual conditions that prevailed, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association prepared an official statement, which slates, among other things:

SHIP OVERCROWDED. The Ruahine was bringing back to New Zealand a mixture of civilian and military passengers. The passenger list shows that the siiip, as had happened previously, was overcrowded, but returning men have raised no objection to this where the authorities have dona the best possible. But the men object to the fact that they were largely displaced by passengers.

Whereas the first and second-class-pro-vided for 140 passengers, actually 539 were carried by means of open steerage accommodation in t.:o 'hold. Of the military passengers a large number were women and children. The specific grounds of complaint are the following: That in an overcrowded ship many of those entitled to first or second-class accommodation were displaced into thirdclass by civilians. That while the 327 military passengers were entitled to sec-ond-class passages the conditions were actually much worse thart third-class, and that the conditions on board the vessel were misrepresented. After giving details of the complaints and the report of the special committee appointed to inquire into same the official account proceeds: —

"FURTHER INQUIRY NECESSARY." On receipt of this report the general secretary got into touch with BrigadierGenerafßichardson, and after consider; able negotiation the Defence authorities replied that after consideration of all the reports regarding the matter it had been decided that a further inquiry was unnecessary. ' Authority had been obtained, it was stated, to all those concerned to be credited with the difference, between cost of second-class and thirdclass messing, and this would bo done immediately. The difference between cost of secondclass and third-class messing was later found to be £4.

The sub-committee appointed by the R.S.A. executive later waited on General Richardson. One of the Euahinc delegates was also present at the interview. The following' points emerged clearly out of p. long discussion:— Tlie substitution of third-class messing for second-class admitted. Payment of £4 in compensation offered. The court of inquiry held at Capetown in general upheld the truth of the statements of the Ruahinc committee. A military inquiry was being prosecuted in England with the object of fixing tiie responsibility for the condition of the ship upon the right parties. It was stated that the N.ZR.S.A. had resolved upon a full investigation of the whole matter with the object of ascertaining who were responsible for the conditions on hoard, and obtaining adequate compensation for t]iose who suffered thereby. The men have demanded the return of the passage money (£l2) paid for wives and dependents, and damages of £2."> per head for the. conditions endured as a result of culpable misrepresentation. ft was stated that a lesal action was arising 1 nut of the luaMei