WHAT'S WRONG?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 61, 5 June 1942, Page 4

WHAT'S WRONG?

COMPLAINTS FROM CAMP

POOR. ORG ANTS ATI ON!

Writing to this paper from Palmerston North, where he was drafted, with a local group of men in a recent batch which left for military service from this district, a young married man lias some illuminating facts to broadcast regarding the facilities (?) and treatment which ha si been meted out.

"I would like you to screed this up in order to let the people of Whakatane see just how wc have been treated," lie writes. "We left Whakatane at 8 a.m. and; travelled all day and all night to< Palmerston North —then a further six hours to our 'camp." When wo did arrive there was no camp, no meals or any provision. The Camp Commander didn't even know we were coming. They hadi given us a pie and; a cup of tea at Palmerston and that constituted all we had to eat from

Frankton. Sixtjr of us; had' to sleep in a hall, so you can guess how comfortable we were. The food; was halfcooked and greasy and the porridge was like eating raw oatmeal and nearly' made one. sick. ''After one week we still have to parade up to our ankles in mud, and eat our stew standing outside in the wind and rain. There arc still no mess huts, no post office, no telephone, or Y.M.C.A. We now sleep five in a tent and "when we awake <Mir blankets are wet through. Half : he boys have tlie 'flu and its no wonder epidemics start. "If Ave want week-end leave we would have to travel 1001) miles' to Whakatane and back, at a cost of 2.") - return (soldiers rate) plus: the fares and: meals on the way. As we get only 35'- a fortnight, you can •'<ee that we won't have mudi show o.f seeing a great deal of our wives and our kiddies. "Hope you will voice our grievances in strong terms as at present it would take us five days travelling to get 24 hours leave—it is preposterous."