CONDITIONS ON LINER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 3

CONDITIONS ON LINER

MEN’S COMPLAINT REPLIED TO BY CAPTAIN SHIP CONSIDERED WELL-FOUND. Wellington, Sent. 6. Complaints by New Zea.and personnel who returned to Wellington in the liner Orion were replied to to-night by the master of the ship, Captain A. C. G. Hawker, C.B.E. The Orion brought home from the United Kingdom 1226 members of the N.Z.E.F. and 147 of the R.N.Z.A.1., who have been prisoners af war. She is the ship wh.ch 170 soldiers and 21 airmen walked off at Liverpool when they had seen the accommodation. The men who left the ship were returned to repatriation centres. “Practically all the men ot the Nev. Zealand forces went overseas in m. type of ship in the early 1940 s,” sa: Captain Hawker. "Then the sh.ps hi. just been diverted from passeng carrying and so the men travelled i comparative luxury. They return no: after the ships have been rig!, through the war and converted t carry as many as nossible; consc quently the standard of comfort is no. so high and the men notice the diffei - ence.” NO OVERCROWDING. The ship was fitted tc carry 4771 men. During the present tr.p 3727 men were carried, so tnere was no o.e. crowding. "The story that the men were continually fed bully beet is a lie,” said tne captain. ’"They had it tor two meals out of 21 served in any one week. Food served included porridge, with milk, beet, potatoes, beans, salad, fisn, cabbage, swedes eggs, apples, bacon, lamo and green peas. Bes.des there were Red Cross supplies oi asparagus, biscuit., cake, jam, sweets, and plum pudding. “The ventilation on the ship, one of the latest of its line, was the best type possible," he added. In fact, during the last three days of the voyage, the forced ventilation system was turned off on some decks at the men’s request —they said they were gett.ng too much cold a-r. There were no men carried below the water line, as had been stated.

Al] the open decks on the ship except one were available to the men. The one exception was lor the 511 officers on board. The canteen prices on the ship were fixed by the authorities and had to be observed. The shipping fine nad no control over them. "This ship is dry, and so are all troop transports,” said the captain. “That is ordered, and sensibly, too.' Complaints about tea were made during the voyage, so New Zealanders were allowed to supervise its muk.ng. Then they were the only ones on board to drink it—other perso.. nel complained and were allowed to make they own separately. LAVATORY ACCOMMODATION. Tnere were more than a sutucient n ...mer of lavatories on coard lor the n.-.i, he said. raitertaniment was organised. There were discussion groups, bra.ns trusts, qu._zes, games, ana pic tui'vs twice a day. A 10-piece banu p.Ujed lor hours daily. Cupra.n Hawker produced a letter to him Irom Lieut.-colonei R. u. wcvo, oii.jer commanding the New Zealanders. Colonel vv’ebo expresed his sincere thanks and appreciat.on “lor ah that you and your stall have done to make our voyage as happy and comlorlaole as possible.” The officer commanding R.A.A.F. pel sonnet on board, Squadron Leader J. crennan, said: "In my opinion this is a well-found ship; i speak ti’oi.i se.eral years or trooping experience.”