§ Sir W. Darlingasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that ss. 292W " Orbita," which left Liverpool for Australia with 546 passengers on 21st June, 1946, carried no sickpans, cuspidors, or airscoops for cabin portholes for the Red Sea passage; and if steps are being taken to re-equip passenger vessels up to modern standards.
§ Mr. BarnesThe re-equipment of passenger vessels for trading is a matter for their owners upon their release from requisition. Such release is being arranged as rapidly as trooping and other commitments permit and according to the capacity of the shipbuilding yards to undertake the necessary work. The "Orbita" has not yet been released for refitting as passenger liner and was specially allocated as a trooper to transport these civilians to Australia. I am advised that owners have discontinued for some years the provision of sickpans and cuspidors as being insanitary. The "Orbita" is ventilated throughout by a modern air pressure supply system and air scoops would impede rather than assist the flow of fresh air.