CAMP LIFE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 110, 26 May 1941, Page 6

CAMP LIFE

THOSE "NIGHTS OUT"

MA Oil IS' ENTERTA INME'NT The Maori Hattalioir's epic, deeds in the war-swept Pass of Thermopylae recall the lighter moments of these grand fighters. Leave was a great event in the lives of these soldiers. On their nights out they proceeded to paint the town red. Sole complaint Avas •die restriction placed on their sallies into town. Like all g'ood sollies, they had to be back in camp at the Cinderella hour of midnight. There was a catch! To break up •i card party, a drinking school or i "heavy date"' at that early hour •eemed sacrilegious. "Hori" rackrd his- brains and hit on a splendid idea. The Maoris were encamped at Palmcrston North. A 15ft Avail,, topped with barbed wire, surrounded their ?amp. To scale this barrier Was, a physical impossibility. But "Hori'* *.vas an ingenious fellow, and evolved a scheme. A little old lady lived in the shadoAv of the wall. She was a pensioner, a quiet, retiring creature

mill she Avas surprised when approached by Uiree, young men from the c:imp. With traditional courtesy "ITori" put his proposition. She fell for it—or perlians she fell for the burning .enthusiasm of youth ! An extension ladder avps placed against the wall at the back of her property. The barbed wire was smartly snipped, and. the Miaoris bowed themselves out. She Started Something, At 5 o'clock next morning, the old lady was roused from her slum* hers,. A terrific racket was going, ur. in her back yard. She hastilj r dressed and rushed outside. She- couldn't believe her eyes! Nearly 100 men were crowded into the narrow confines of her yard! A continuous' stream of khaki-clad Maoris was swarming up that ladder . Maoris —Maoris—Maoris—scores Jof them, all pleasantly, or unpleasant] inebriated. The "boys" had had a night out— they'd overstayed their leave by five liours (if they had' leave, Avhieh seemed doubtful) and were introducing a variation into the old game called "ducking the suiard." The last Maori scalc-d the fence and disappeared into the camp. The old lady heaved a sigh of relief. She had done them a good turn and would be troubled no more. That's where her judgment erred. Next night—am! for Aveeks afterwards—the comings and goings continued. Thjp men were always noisy, but seldom troublesome, and did »ot abuse the privilege she granted them. She grew resigned to her fate, so much so that she actually missed the soldier-playboys when, for some reason or other, the nightly excursions were cancelled. These fun-loving warriors have made the world resound with thei/ magnificent courage and bravery. They're heroes now—but to a little old ladv in the twilight of life, they're a crowd of boys—kids playing "hookey" from school.