THE NEWTON CAMP SCANDAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 September 1901, Page 4

THE NEWTON CAMP SCANDAL.

(pee press association)

Wellington, September 12. The report of the Royal Commission which was set up to enquire into the conduct of the Newton Park camp during the recent Royal visit was laid on the table of the House to-day.

The Commissioners report that Newton Park was wholly unsuitable for on encampment of: mounted men at that time of the year; that no sufficient measures were taken to provide rations for the officers and men, and that there appears to have been wholly insufficient provision by the officers of day or oilier orderly officers to issue cooked rations at the camp ; there was no inspection by -the officer commanding the Wellington distrtct of the site of the camp or of the arrangement made for the comfort and convenience of the men and horses. The wishes and orders of the Defence Minister were that the men and horses were to be properly accommodated and rationed, although (says the report) the demonstration in camp cannot in any way be justified. It may be urged by the men in extenuation that proper complaints had wholly failed to obtain any redress of their undoubted grievance. * Such neglect of the men's legitimate complaints tends to incite to breaches of discipline. As to Colonel Penton's words, "Cowardly curs," the report says that it applied only to those, if any, who had taken part in the demonstration. In conclusion the Commissioners recommend :

(1) That a full battalion staff should be appointod for each battalion of Mounted Rifles as soon as possible. (2) That sufficient and proper cooking utensils should be issued to every country corps, and that in future at all encampments rations should be issued uncooked to the battalions and companies. (3) That greater attention should be given to the training of officers of volunteers in staff duties, especially in those known as "B" duties or the Quartermaster's department. (4) That in future all large camps should be officially inspected by an officer of the permanent staff with a view to insuring that all proper arrangments are made in connection with the camp prior to its occupation by troops.