TROOPS ON TRANSPORTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 2

TROOPS ON TRANSPORTS.

ALLEGED UNSUBSTANTIATED

ALLEGATIONS

LETTER FROM MINISTER OF

DEFENCE

The following letter was read at yesterday's meeting of the WanganuiWaitotara Patriotic Association, consideration thereof being deferred Until tho next meeting i—

Minister's Office, Defence Department, Wellington, , 25th March, 1919. Dear Sir.—ln the "Evening Post" of the 14th March there is a Press Association telegram from Wanganui stating that the W'anganui Patriotic Association at its meeting on the ,12th March expressed strong condemnation concerning transports and passed the following motion: —

"That a great many privates are applying for their discharge at Home in order to avoid the txtreme discomforts of a Voyage out in the crowded bottom holds of troopsships, oh an unnecessary restricted diet, notwithstanding tltat much accommodation is vacant in the passenger quarters reserved for offices. " That no church services have been held ori F.onie transports, and that the Government he requested to alter such conditions."

I I shall be glad if you will supply me "with the sonrde otf your information. Articles of this description are contrary to fact, and place the Defence Department in a false position before the public: and unless you can prove the statements that hay» been made, I claim that it is just that you should give a direct rebuttal with the same degree of publicity its you have given to the indictment. 1 have asked for a report, and have been supplied, with the iollbwing:— (1) Troops are £ever accommodated in. the bottom holds of vessels; the accommodation of troops is always in the permanent third class and in the " 'tweeh-decks." The " 'twee.Uieck " of a vessel is invariably oil the main deck, with rows of poft-holes, and is seldom, if ever, below the water-line. In addition to this, the dormitories are specially ventilated^ and fitted for tho accommodation of troops. (2) The statement that much accommodation, is vacant ill the passenger quarters reserved for officers is coh-tl-ary to communications received, from thfei United Kingdom, repeated cables Stating that there was insufficient officer accommodation, and asking lor permission to despatch officers via Canada. Whilst it is coh&idered that there is atnpte accommodation for officers in the event of a surplus being available the practice has always been, to utilise sii/ch for sergeants or other tiiuks, with a view to distributing the troops as evenly as possible throughout the ship. (8) Theiie is M> uiinfecessarjf restrlition of diet • in fact, it is provided that 'the most liberal and (varied possible scale be given. The shortage of food in the United Kingdom has at timos made it necessary to restrict "'he rations below that specified for New Zea aud troops, but- this, restrictfoflj w&en euforced, wa-s applicable to creiv, .avengers, and troops, of all classes. Where food is available or obtainable t?n i'oute, the Oxncer Commanding New Zealaacl troops on board has authority, if he considers the food inadequate to ordor an augmentation, his specified duty in this respect being to ensui-e that food is good, Varied ahd plentiful. Incidentally, the reports frdin the last six. vessels returning to the Dominion speak in the highest terms oF the food supplied. (4) With regard to thv< statement ■that no church services are held on some transports, this is absolutely, contrary to fact, as chaplains, who have been on every vessel but two, Would ensure that this was carried out. The routine orders of the two vessels where no chaplains were carried establishes the fact that ohurdi services were regularly held. Yours faithfully, (.Signed) 3. ALLEN, Minister of Defence.

The Chairman, Wanganui Patriotic Association, Wanganud.