Q.M. W. CLOUSTON.]

27

H.— 60.

149. And did you do so on all occasions ?—I never reported it personally myself. 150. You never reported it yourself I—No,1 —No, it was reported by the men. 151. Why was it, when you saw it yourself, you never reported it? —Because it had been reported before by the men. 152. Did you not see the food before the men saw it ? —No, sir. 153. You never saw it before the men saw it ?—No, sir. 154. When did you first make arrangements with the cook about a supply of food?—lt would be three or four days out from Durban. 155. What was the nature of the arrangement you made?—l just went up and bought it like any one else would buy it, and paid Is. for it. 156. You did not make any arrangements for the trip ?—No, sir. 157. When you bought your first meal, what was your objection to the food supplied then ?—I did not like the food we were getting, and as I had plenty of money I bought it. 158. Was it because you were flush of cash that you wanted to get the same food as the officers, and not because at that time the food supply to the men was indifferent ?—lf it had been pretty good food I would not have bought any. 159. Coming back now to the question of the blankets : you did your best to find out whether the blankets were clean or not ?—I did, sir. 160. You reported to your officer what investigations you had made ?—-Yes, sir. 161. Did you not report to him that the blankets were not in good condition ?—I did not report to him. 162. What duties had you, then, in regard to the blankets?— Simply drawing them from the storekeeper, and issuing them to the men. 163. If you had noticed that the blankets were in bad condition would you have reported it ?— Yes, sir, I would. 164. No report coming from you that the blankets were in a bad condition, your officer was quite justified in taking it for granted that you were satisfied with the blankets ? —-Yes, sir. 165. And no complaint could be made against him ?—No, air. 166. You do not suggest any point against the officers because lice were afterwards found in the blankets? —No. 167. Did the officers commanding squadrons do anything with their squadrons over and above the general orders that were issued under Colonel Davies during the passage over?—No, I do not think they did, sir. 168. Did troop-leaders ever do anything with their troops? —No, I do not think so. 169. How did men pass away the afternoon as a rule ?—Most of them were up on deck, but a tremendous lot of them were below, playing cards, talking, and reading. 170. Were there some of the men who would get into the habit of spending a lot of their time down below, and not take every advantage of going on deck and moving about ?—They took every advantage of moving about as much as they could. 171. By the men?— Yes. 172. From what you know of the men, supposing the squadron-leader had arranged during the afternoon —the off-time of the men —to have some physical drill, or give some of the men hard work during the afternoon, would the men have stood it ?—I do not think so, sir. 173. You think they would have rebelled at having to go through physical exercise ?—Yes. I do not think they would do it, sir. 174. I suppose you yourself would know that that would be of advantage to the men on board ship? —I suppose it would be, sir. 175. Now, in regard to the condition of the air : you described it as very bad?— Yes. 176. Was that on the lowest deck ?—On the upper deck of the two —the 'tween-deck. 177. Then, on the lower deck matters were worse?— Worse still, I think. 178. Were you ever down there ? —I passed through ; I never stayed there. I had to pass through to get to the store-room. 179. Did you notice whether the men on the lower deck took every advantage of getting on d ec k?— Yes. We could not all get on the main deck at once. It was always crowded there. 180. You do not think that a number got into the habit of hanging about and not going up on deck enough ?—No; they always went up on deck, sir. 181. Mr. Millar.] Did you see any drunkenness on board?— Yes; very little though. There were penny beers. 182. Could you get drunk on a penny beer?— Yes, very often. I did not get drunk myself. 183. You saw it yourself ?—Yes. 184. Were any steps taken when you saw it: did any of the officers take any action over it ? — No, sir. 185. Did it ever come to their notice ?—No, I do not think it did. 186. The Chairman.'] Did you say you saw much drunkenness among the men on board ?— Yes, almost every morning there was drunkenness. They were just merry. 187. Drunk as a soldier ?—Yes. ♦ 188. Did you take any steps to report that ?—I took no steps. 189. Was it part of your duty as a non-commissioned officer to take such notice ?—No, I do not think so. 190. Was it your duty on shore if a man was drunk to place him in the guard-room ?— It is the duty of a non-commissioned officer. 191. Would that differ on board ship?—lt should not. 192. Did you or did you not do your duty in the matter of drunkenness ?—I did not feel it my duty to report the matter.