CHARGE AGAINST OFFICER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 2

CHARGE AGAINST OFFICER.

; ALLEGED INCIDENT ON TRANSPORT INQUIRY TO BE 3JADE. , ' [FKOM OUB Coeresfokdeot.] WELLINGTON,'Juno 20. In the course of a question addressed to tlio Defence Minister to-day on the subject of food supplied on transport 48 while conveying 10 the front men of the Eleventh Reinforcements, Mr Poole read a letter which contained serious allegations against the quality of the food and also against the officer coni--1 nuaiding tho troops on tho vessel. The letter, which,the member said was written by a man who was not personally concerned in the matter, stated that the food supplied to tho men was so scandalous that a petition was drawn up and signed by I'~'3 men out of a company of 169, and also by twelve non-commissioned officers. The petition drew attention to the bad food, ex- | pressed a hope that it would be iinI proved, and was respectfully worded, j but the writer of ttio letter alleged that tho result was that tne men were severely reprimanded, while tho twelve 1 *\ T .C.Ch "signatories were paraded at i headquarters and abused by the comI nianding officer. This officer, alleged I tho writer, called them skulkers and j not fit to fight, and declared that they | ought.- to be shot, tlu\t men's lives at [tho front were worth no more than i equipment, and concluded with the assertion that if all the men going to the front were like them it would,bo n good thing if a German submarine torpedoed the ship When Mr Poolo finished reading the letter and petition, the Prime Minister said: " I ani sorry that the Minister of Defence is not present j as this is a very serious statement to - make. _ 1 think it i> so important that full inquiry should be made. It must be made, and I shall advise the Minister of Defence accordingly. (Hoar, hear.) The Hon A. 31. Myers explained to the. House that reports tvere furnished by every transport to the central au- j tfioritv,"and all the reports spoke very highly indeed of all the food supplied in the various transports. As a matter of fact it was the best procurable in New Zealand.