LOCAL CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2779, 25 May 1916, Page 3

LOCAL CAMPS

A CHORUS OF DEMANDS

AN IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME

The question of local rcoeiving camps was raised iu the House yoiterduy. alteriiooji by ill', l'ooio. Ho said that if tiio Minister of Defence would go into tUo Auckland Recruiting Ollke •Mr. Allen: 1 have been there.

Air. Poolo said that no doubt the Minister had had pointed out to him scores and scores of ules containing tho names of men who had sijfued on, been medically examined, and had then gone away, and who, when required subsequently, were missing. If there were local camps in which such men could be placcd straight away it would save a great many of thorn. Sir. All on t Do you suggest putting those men in these camps on tho day of enlistment f

All'. Poole: Yes, on the ilny of enlist inent. A good plan would bo to place three or four well-equipped J:ut\s at tue Harrow Neck camp in chargo of n number of non-commissioned oihoers, in order that tho men could bo dealt with at. once.

Mr. Allen: 'Would jon da Ibis at Narrow Neck only? Mr. Poole: That would do for Auckland. Similar camps could bo established iu Canterbury and Ofcuga. Mr. Allen: And nt New Plymouth, Timaru, (Jamaru? Mr. Mauder: And Whangarei? Mr. Allen: And Pukekolni. Tho Prime Minister says Pukekoho. (Laughter.) Mr. Poole: I an; not joking. This is not a joking matter. ■ Mr. Anderson supported Air. Poole's remarks. He ,dM not see why tlinro could not be a receiving camp in every mnall town. It would not cost much. Even if tho men had to be billeted in boardinghouses nntil they could b(t sent to Trentham it would be a good thing. Mr. Harris said that a recruiting officer in Auckland had informed him that probably there were about five hundred mon who had enrolled and been medically examined,'but who had not turned up when they were called upon. * The Minister tf .Defence • said that the representations received in regard to local and receiving camps had teen carefully considered. Tho conclusion, which was concurred iu by every member of the -staff, was that local, camps would be a ghastly failure, and that receiving camps would also be a failure. It was suggested that immediately a maii signed on at a recruiting office he immediately should be placed in a receiving camp—that he should bo taken away from his business without being given' time 1 to make arrangements lor carrjinjr' it : cn, Members:'No! No I That is not what we ask. . .

Mr. Allen: That is what was said in the House to-day. I liava heard of a man Koing into a recruiting office aud signing on when he wn£ not in a lit state to do so, and jiext' morning lie lias known nothing a.bout it. Mr. Witty: It is very unfair to say tbnt. -

Jlr. Allen: Am I to take suc.h a man nnd hold him? And under a voluntary system! >

'Mr'.. Witty: Yes, until the morning. Jlr. Ailen: I am not (joinpr to do any such thing. I am not going to usurp the functions of the polico or any. other Do. partment. Receiving camps were quite impracticable. If tlicy were established every little district in tlie Dominion would want to have one. We have not the staff, equipment, or other means for carrying out such an unsound policy. Mr. Harris:. Why not administer tho oath when tho men sign on? Mr. Aileu: Tho honourable gentleman Ijjjd bettor wait until tho Military Service Bill is introduced.