CAMP COMFORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 141, 13 August 1941, Page 2

CAMP COMFORT

PRAISE FOR WAIOURU

CONTRAST WITH AUSTRALIA

"When I went into Waiouru camp

after an experience in Australia, I thought I was in a ffrst-elass tourist hotel," said a New Zealander who has had some experience in military camps in Australia recently, and who is now in the forces in this country. "i was first in what was called the best camp ir. Australia. Though the men have hutments, there are no bunks and no hot and cold water washing facilities such as we have over here. We had blankets —enough of them, though the nights were cold—and mattresses on the floor.

The latrine arrangements were primitive compared with the New Zealand scheme, although it would have been no difficult matter to obtain more than adequate supply: from the Murray River. In the cookhouse the arrangements were also inferior to New Zealand standards, all being temporary in character.

"I was surprised and disappointed by the army rations. They appeared to be about half of what we get in this country. That is probably no exaggeration, but it gives an idea of the marked difference. Anyhow, representations were made, and late." rations for New Zealanders—there

were a number of us—were increased until they were in harmony with our home scale. In uniforms, too, we were vastly superior, and the Aussie soldiers envied us our battle-

dress in particular

'"Another surprise for me was in the stature of the men. We saw in one*camp a company of speciallyselected men. I was .looking for the tall, bronzed gods I have dreamed of, but instead I discovered that they could not compare for bulk with the ordinary companies of 'Kiwis,' as they call us. Australian Interest. "The Aussies show an intense interest in the doings of New Zealanders and in the affairs of the Dominion, although the ignorance about us, especially in the back country, is remarkable. It humbled, me a bit, because I realised that we were not large enough to interest the Australian, outback in details and he doesn't make contact nvlth us. However, they all seem anxious to come and see New Zealand, and generally the opinion seems to be that this is a 'great country.' Coming back to it, I am inclined to think that, from a military viewpoint, at any rate, •hey are right. "Australia is evidently doing a great work industrially, but the/0 does not appear to be the same concern for the comfort of the soldiers, though these men have to be attracted as volunteers. Of one thing I' am now convinced: We work under conscription. I used to be a bit ashamed of the compulsion implication, but now I see that it is better than volunteering—it's more dignified, il is sounder, and the results are in-

initely superior

"Before we came back to the Do minion I saw other camps, so the opinions I formed and the contrasts [ have made are not based on a hurried peep into our encampment. I lived in them as a chap in the ranks and I saw enough to convince n;e that conditions for the New Zealand

recruit are superior in every way. Compared, with the Aussie recruit, we live in the lap of luxury."