POST & TELEGRAPH CORPS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2417, 24 March 1915, Page 9

POST & TELEGRAPH CORPS

CAMP WORK AT WAIKANAE. The Post and Telegraph Corps has just held a training camp for officers and non-commissioned officers at Waikanae, where in- conjunction with the Engineers-and Signallers- of the Wellington district, they had the' Waikanae racecourse placed at their disposal by Mr. Parata. A more ideal spot for the camp could not.be imagined. An ample supply-.of pure water, excellent shelter afforded by a belt of native bush, and practically an unlimited area as a parade ground. In all 29 officers and 66 N.C.O.'s attended the camp coming from all parts of the Dominion, -and put in ten days of very useful instructional work under tlio guidance of Lieut.-Colonel Harton, of Wellington, who was in command. During the course of the camp visits wero paid .by Licut.-Colonel Miller, Assist-ant-Director of Post and Telegraph Services, and the cam]) was inspected by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. R. Hoaton Rhodes), and the Secretary of the Department (Colonel W. R. Morris), who expressed themselves as well satisfied with all they saw. und tho programme of instruction laid down.

In addressing the parade after inspection, Mr. Rhodes said he felt sure that those present_ realised the importance of soimd military training, not only from the point of the country's need, but also as applied to their duties iu domestic and civil life. Those present were given special training in order that they might impart the knowledge Rained to their fellows when they returned to their stations.' He was glad to think they would be able to do this and he hoped that tlieir efforts would assist in placing the corps where he, as head of the Department, earnestly desired to see it—second to none in the Dominion. They might rely on every reasonable assjstance from the went in striving towards this goal. They had a splendid, opportuntiy, and ho believed they would make the most of it.

Those attending the camp were fortunate in receiving practical and theoretical instruction from the officers of the N.Z.S.C. present in camp, viz., Captains Dovey and Grover. Captain Herbert, N.Z.M. Corps, also gave an instructive lecture 011 camp sanitation, and had the pleasure, as he expressed it, of' seeing his theories carried' into practice when he made his daily inspection.