It is necessary that the men shall be landed at their destination in a physically fit condition if they are subsequently to render the really efficient service which the people of the dominion hope to hear of them rendering.
Representations have, however, been made to us which suggest that the accommodation that is being provided on the troopship now at Port Chalmers - and probably she is in this respect typical of the whole fleet of troopships - may very advantageously be improved.
With the fact that sleeping quarters have to be provided 'tween decks for the men it is impossible to find fault: it has to be recognised that this is inevitable.
The transportation of considerable bodies of troops from one end of the world to the other cannot be effected without the infliction of a certain amount of personal discomfort on the men.
But it will be generally agreed that it is desirable that this discomfort should be mitigated as much as possible, and that, at any rate, hygienic considerations should upon no account be disregarded.
We are assured, however, that the provision for the ventilation of the troopship that is now at Port Chalmers is quite inadequate.
There should be no difficulty about the installation of electric fans to secure that the atmosphere below decks at night shall be tolerable.
The additional expenditure should certainly not be grudged when the effect may be to preserve the men - many of them probably suffering from colds at the beginning of the voyage - from the risk that would be associated with their sleeping in imperfectly ventilated quarters.
• The parade and march through the city on Saturday of the Otago and Southland section of the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force furnished a spectacle that could not fail to deeply impress those who witnessed it.
It was an event calculated to bring home very forcibly to the minds of the onlookers the manner in which New Zealand is actually involved in the conflict that is now raging.
The Empire is engaged in a just war which it must at any cost bring to a triumphal issue, and no part of the Empire can play a passive role.
Altogether the men made an excellent showing and conveyed the impression of being thoroughly able to uphold the credit of the dominion and of the Empire wherever they may be called upon to serve.
The march-past of such a body of troopers and infantry was one of the most inspiring sights Dunedin has witnessed. - ODT, 31.8.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
