WITH THE TROOPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 98, 8 December 1939, Page 5

WITH THE TROOPS

NOTES ON CAMP LIFE

LOCAL MAN'S LETTER

A letter from Mr Ilnr'on Stewart to his family, in Whakatane. contains some interesting references to the conditions in Trentham. Mr Stewart who joined up with the spe cial Maori force is undergoing training for a commission and his observations will serve to show that the average soldier has little to complain about as far as the life generally is concerne.d

He says: "We have plenty of food, plenty of routine, plenty of swatting, and very little time to smoke, drink or sleep."

Living appointments and conditions are very good. The issue for each soldier is 5 blankets, 1. white sheet, 1 pillow and slip, 2 pairs woollen underpants, 2 pairs heavy but comfortable black boots, 2 woollen singlets, 2 towels, 1 tin basin, 1 dresser with two drawers, 1 iron cot with Avire mattress and one hair stuffed mattress.

The hut is supplied with electric lights, and an ironing board v/ith an electric iron. There is also a

wardrobe

We enjoy good-meals. To-morrow, Sunday, as we have leave at weekends from 12 noon Saturday till 7.30 a.m. Monday, a party has arranged to go out after shellfish -ind watercress to add to our bill of fare,

Julian Waretine and I with one or two others organised a Choir and Concert Party with great success. We had our first rehearsal the other night in the Y.M.C.A. reading room to which all the pakeha officers and N.C.O.'s were invited. My own contribution Avas a violin solo (Toselli's Serenata) and the song "Tell Me To-night." Captain Tahiwi played my accompaniment. One of the items was a song to p very stirring air in 6/8 tempo composed by Private Amohau of Rotorua. This song is becoming so popular that even the European soldiers in camp are singing or trying to sing frt. Hakas and war dances of various styles were the order of the night. At the conclusion of the concert, the visitors voted it one of the very best entertainments they had ever

witnessed

I am working very hard at my training syllabus and have received encouraging remarks from the Instructor. Instruction includes certain phases of weapon training, /ind each man in turn instructs the section for which he receives written marks for sequence, delivery and deportment. Next week-end we sit for an examination on all instruction work to date. So here's hoping.