["The 'Comforts' Of The Kwinana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 08 February 1914, page 5S]
THE "COMFORTS" OF THE KWINANA.
A Nor'-West Squatter Speaks.
"Yes," said a Sharks Bay squatter one day last week, "the comforts of the Kwinana are rather funny, and are liable to get one rather annoyed at times, for as a matter of fact such things as 'comforts' don't seem to be in evidence on that State-owned steamer. For instance, I booked a passage at Sharks Bay for Perth some little time back. I took the Kwinana for a very good reason--she was the only boat I could take. I booked first saloon and was told nothing about berth accommodation. When I boarded the boat the quietly told me that the berths were full, but after a bit of trouble an official very obligingly arranged a stretcher shake-down for me in the best part of the ship. At least I think it is the best part on ordinary ships, but if it is the best on the Kwinana I should like to see the worst.
"On the same deck and next door were a mob of sheep being brought down; on the other side was a prisoner condemned to death for murder. So you may judge that pleasant surroundings did not make up for my failure to get a proper berth. That wasn't all. There must have been somewhere in the region of 40 people in the saloon, and in the dining-room there were only 16 seats. As there were some seven officers who used to roll down regularly to meals you can judge for yourself how a man would feel who didn't get in the first sitting. The food? It was good and plain food particularly the latter. During the time I was on the vessel I could never locate the simplest conveniences, so I presume there were none. But I was prepared to put up with all this for my first-saloon fare if I could have got a little concession I asked for.
"When we came down to Fremantle I found that I could not avail myself of my return ticket, but as my governess was going to Sharks Bay by that boat I thought of getting the ticket transferred to her, for surely, thought I, since I had put up with so much inconvenience the Government will not mind stretching a little point for me. Did they do it? No; they actually had the icy cheek to tell me that it was 'against the regulations.' I suppose taking a man's fare and telling him nothing about the lack of berths, making him put up with the company of sheep, etc. as next door sleeping neighbours, and the other inconveniences detailed, are all in accord with the 'regulations.' Piffle!
"But what I want to point out is this: Before the State came into the shipping business a private-owned boat was run to Sharks Bay and other ports, and one never had to put up with the lack of berth accommodation or any of the other many discomforts, large and small, mentioned with regard to the Kwinana. The State apparently can't run the shipping business to the satisfaction of travellers or to its own profit; then why can't they let someone else who can?"
