CAMPS AND THE MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2721, 16 March 1916, Page 6

CAMPS AND THE MEN

TRENTHAM water supply

NIGHTS IN TOWN

Glie dry weather which has prevailed for so long, and which has ail'ected the ivnter supplies of certain districts is beginning to make itself felt in regard to the water supply of Trentham Camp. ' i>o far there lias been nothing approach- * ing a shortage, but as a precautionary ' measure tho shower-baths have been J liscontinuod, the troops 111 camp mak- ' ing daily trips to the Hutt liivor for ' bathing parade.. Tho camp wator supply, comes from a resorvoir in the gully behind tho camp, and an ample supply of puro water has always been available. It is not anticipated that there will ho any dearth of water for drink- i ing and cooking purposes. In order that there may bo no lack of water for tho hospital sanitary system, a storage tank is being erected, into which water win be pulped from a well, as is done at many private houses at Heretaunga 1 and Silvorstream. Hospital Gardens, Tlie making of flower gardens in front of the Trentham Camp Hospital is progressing. Already quite striking displays of flowers aro in evidence, and tho shrubs planted appear to be doing well. An effort is also being made to create lawns, and tho grass and the flowers make a pleasant little oasis in an area of shingle and dry soil. Enlarged Records Office. When it is stated that 10,000 men pass through Trentham Camp every month in tho course of their training and preparatory to embarkation, it will be realised that the work of the camp records office and the paymaster's office is no trifliiig matter., Recently, changes have been made with a view of giving tho staffs of these departments more room. The records have been removed into the building formerly ■vised as a church room by the Anglican Church, and the paymaster branch now occupies the room in which departments were formerly housed. The Night Off In Town. Up till about a week ago, when soldiers wont on leave for the evening irom Trentham Camp, they got 'their passes and tickets and made their way to the troop trains at their leisure, or, as often happened, in independent : haste. All that has been altered. The I orderly sergeants attend at headquarters, and obtain all tickets and passes, | and the men fall in at the camp gates, which are closed until the numbers and names have .been checked and passes looked at by tho military police, lien the gates swing open, and the troops march to the station, and entrain in' an orderly manner. After they have left camp, the gates are closed, and no more men are allowed to pass out, except on special duty -or leave. Tho camp .officers states that tho new order of things has caused a distinct improvement m the behaviour of the high-spir-ited .youngsters among tho men while in the tram,_ and it simplifies the work of the police 011 duty at the gates. ' Commandant Addresses Troops. Tlio Camp Commandant at Trentham S i? ' Potter) addressed the 14th Reinforcements yesterday on their duties and behaviour as soldiers. These troops aro tho latest arrivals iii camp, and the advice given them by tlio Commandant should be of use to them in their careers as soldiers. He emphasised the difference between the British methods of ' inculcating discipline n • i - t l cri y. fm . of enforcing it. i % ltls « ■ discipline depended upon tile officers seounng t.lio complete • connnoneeof their men and leading them, while tho German article was enforced upon the soldiers with blows and hard words; they .were driven into battle. Golonel Potter said that instant obedience to all commands issued by the proper officers was necessary, and the object 111 training the men was to make lem, 111 mind and body, better men than their adversaries. ' Fitness for war was the only thing that counted, and a soldierly spirit helped men to bear fatigue - privation, and danger cheei fiillj*. Other matters touched upou concerned cleanliness' in camn. camp sanitation, redress of grievances, leave, travelling in trains, tlio difference between camp police and the "Red Caps, hquor in camps, the relation of the canteen to the regimental funds, and instructions to bo followed when the men were moved to Featherst-on. Both In It. This story .is told of a Headquarter officer and a recruit, and the incident is said to have occurred on a hot moraing' during parade hour when the cold shower baths were closed. The officer had obtained • entrance to the shower,' and was rerelhng m it, whon > re crmi m dungarees entered, did not recognise the officer out of his uniform, and quickly stripped for the bath.- lender the shower, he became talkative. lon dodging it too?" he asked. Dodging what?" asked the officer. ( Parade was the reply. "I am." said the officer Head luarters1 uarters Staff," "You are, are you?" the recruit exclaimed. You re one of those luckv dogs that never does a tap, eh?" ~r A„ A s t,la ' h' B extreme innocence hut* 0 e r to , Sfl y 110 more, ti? 6 went all through the camp m no time. a

,A. r ver y enjoyable concert, arranged y Mr. Cixlford Bell, was given in the Salvation Army Hall, Trentham, on luesday night. Items were presented by Miss Eva Smith, Miss Ethel ClrarS; ni r'¥' Wi6 ' ami union. The concert was under the