TBOOPER SILBEY.I

57

H.—6c

372. You saw those latrines aft of the ship?— Yes, sir. 373. Do you remember how the place was built ?—Yes, sir. 374. You know you had to step over a bit of water-board'? —Yes. 375. Now, if that water was sluicing about to go over chat board, would it not go down among the men ?—Some of it did go down below. 376. If that water was going at the rate that it would go over that board, it would be about lft. to loin, deep?—A foot deep, I should say. 377. There were only about 4 in. to go for it to get down into the men ?—lt would not go down into the men as the ship rolled it 378. About 3 in. or 4 in. to go down to the men ?—Yes. 379. You are perfectly certain that those latrines overflowed on to the fish ?—At night-time, yes. 380. Every night ?—No, I would not say that. 381. How high was the grating?—l could not say; it was not very high. I should say ■ about J in. 382. I may be wrong, but I thought it was 6 in. high ?—I would not say so. I would take it to be about Jin. 383. The Chairman.] What was the greatest depth of water you ever saw sluicing about in the latrines ?—I think it would be about 1 it. deep when she was rolling. 384. But when on the level ?—lt would be about ankle-deep, 3 in. 385. How far had it to rush when the ship rolled—how far was it from the latrine to the coaming?—l could not say how far from door to door. 386. Was it 4 ft. ?—I could not say. 387. Can you give us any idea ?—lt would be more than 5 ft. 388. And you have seen it 3 in. deep ?—I have seen it deeper than that. I have seen it over lft. deep. 389. Was there any place for the water to escape except over the coaming on the deck near the fish ? —Not into the alley-way. 390. Could it get out of the latrines except on to the deck ?—Yes, by pulling the plugs out. 391. Was there no door or other means of exit ?—There were two doors, one on each side of the alley-way. 392. Were they equally high—the coamings ?—Yes. 393. What height were they ?—1 could not say. 394. 1 ft. or more, or less than 1 ft. ? —I could not say. 395. Can you give us any idea by looking at that wall ?—About 1 ft. 396. How far was the water from the top of the coaming when you saw it at its fullest ?— 1 ft. deep. 397. How far was it from overflowing when the ship was not rolling ?—lt would be right over the top. 398. Was it 6 in. from the top, or what ?—lt would sluice up. ' 399. It was practically full up the whole time?— Yes. Trooper Gilbekt Waldie sworn and examined. (No. 15.) 400. Mr. Millar.] What is your name?— Gilbert Waldie. 401. And you are a trooper in which contingent?— The Eighth. 402. What rank are you ?—Trooper. 403. We understand that you desire to give evidence in connection with the complaints made in the " Britannic " : have you any complaint ?—What I have to complain about is the accommo-dation—sleeping-apartments. There was supposed to be a hook per man for hammocks, and there was not a hook per man. They had to sleep on the floor. 404. Were there many sleeping on the floor?— Yes, a good crowd. The decks were very wet all the time. 405. The lower deck?— Yes, it was wet. 406. Did you count the hooks?—No, I did not count them. I counted them some nights. I had to fight for it one night, and I got it. 407. Have you anything_else to say about the accommodation?—No, nothing more about the accommodation. The tea and coffee was very bad ; I could not drink it. Ido not think I had two cups of tea all the time coming over. 408. What was wrong with it ? —Well, it was strong, and it was sometimes cold. Ido not know what sort of coffee it was; it had not a very nice taste, anyhow. The meat was uncooked at times. Sometimes we got a very nice piece of meat, but it would never go all round. There was generally a squabble on the deck about the issuing of it. And the bedding was a little bit lively when we had it given to us, so we had a lively trip. I think that is all I have to complain against. 409. Your complaints are that there was not sufficient sleeping-accommodation, there was no room to sling your hammocks down below, tea and coffee bad, and meat was badly cooked and not enough of it, and the bedding was not too clean ?—Yes, that is right. 410. Upon how many occasions did you yourself find the lower decks at night-time wet ?— Well, it was always wet. 411. What caused them to be wet ?—They did not have enough ventilation to let fresh air in, so that they had to open the hatchway, and a sea would break over. And in calm weather it was scrubbed out, and it had not time to dry. 412. How often was it scrubbed out?—l could not tell you. I should think, about four or five times a week.

B—H. 6c.