N.C.O'S. PERMANENT STAFF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 6

N.C.O'S. PERMANENT STAFF

THEIR POSITION IN CAMP. At a meeting of the Wairarapa Patriotic' Association held yesterday morning it was stated that the non-commis-sioned officers of the permanent'staff in camp had no quarters in which they could spend their spare time, in comfort or entertain their friends. Sir Walter Buchanan said it seemed a surprising thing that the ii.c.o.'s were being neglected by the Government. It was the duty of the Government (.0 attend to this matter,, as it affected the whole of New Zealand. He fully sympathised with the men, and something should be done, but he thought the Government should be appealed to. Mr. J. W. Card (Featherston) said he had gone to the camp and made inquiries. Tho only place the n.c.o.'s had was a hut, with bare walls. This was about 30ft. x 20ft. It had a stove in it, and was unlined. Thero was no furniture. The permanent staff had been applying for some time, but tho Department had turned tho proposal down on the score of economy. Something should be done-in the matter. There were about thirty or forty married, and the only place they had was a little crib. The men Were compelled to keep to themselves, and were ordered not to fraternise with the privates. Mr.' Card thought ■ a sum of £70 or £80 should be set I apart to assist in furnishing the hut to give tho men a degree of comfort. Mr. A. P. Whatman said that some ■ time ago the officers were treated very badly. A deputation went'to the Ministed to see that justice was done. i Sir James Allen replied: "These men have got hard times iu front of them, i and wo must not pamper them here." ■ The speaker said he remarked at the time: "My own dogs at Abhotsford are treated better than the men in . camp." The officers now had proper i comfort, but the non-commissioned offi- ■ cers should also receive better treatment. [ Sir Walter Buchanan moved: "That the attention of the Defence Department bo called to an article in the . 'Wairarapa Daily Times' with regard to the permanent staff,, saying that this : executive considers it is the duty of \ the Department to at once effectually j remedy the matter; in the meantime , this association will grant £50, so that \ immediate relief be given, and appeal- ( ing to the Government to subsidise I this amount by £ for £." This was seconded by Mr. W. B. Matheson and carried unanimously.