TROOPS FOR CAMP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 30 September 1939, Page 4

TROOPS FOR CAMP

SOLDIERS’ FAREWELL EARLY-MORNING MUSTER DIGGERS CALLED UPON CO - OPERATION INVITED Protesting strongly against arrangements which necessitate the departure of volunteers for the military forces at 2 o’clock in the morning, the executive of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening decided to call a muster of all available ex-servicemen to give the new “main-body” men a rousing send-off in the early hours of Tuesday. The muster will be held at the intersection of Ormond road and Stafford street, in the vicinity the Abercorn Hall, and the hour fixed is 1.30 a.m.

Many Diggers will find it difficult to comply with the request of the association, but it is felt that it would not be fitting to permit the departure of the newly-enlisted men to pass without a gesture of comradeship and commendation from the veterans of the old New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

The executive also decided to invite the co-oneration of the Poycrty Bay Women's Central Representative Committee in providing some form of refreshments for the newly-enlisted men prior to their departure. Many of the men forming the contingent will have come long distances to the point of assembly, and the association feels that the provision of hot coffee and sandwiches will be much appreciated.

Departure Through Business Area The municipal authorities also are to be asked to arrange for the street lights in the town and suburbs to be kept burning until after the departure of the contingent, and it is suggested that the cars conveying the volunteers to Wairoa should pass through the town by way of Peel street and Gladstone road, instead of leaving Gisborne by a route through the suburbs. •Last night’s meeting of the R.S.A. executive was an emergency one, called to discuss arrangements for the deoarture of troops for camp. It was reported by the president, Colonel R. F. Cambrill, that he had represented the association in connection with the departure of a group of officers and non-commissioned officers last Tuesday, and had expressed to the members of that party the association’s anxiety to do everything possible to maintain the interests of those who had undertaken to fight for the country in this war. He felt that too little had been done to mark the departure of this group, and that no further contingents should be allowed to leave Gisborne without a fitting recognition, of the sacrifices the men were preparing to make.

The president’s views were endorsed unanimously by the executive, those presertt being Messrs. A. S. Muir, G. Bradley Smith, G. C. Jones, P. W. Bushnell, G. Crawshaw, A. H. Lange, W. Oakden, and Dr. H. Colliding Rice, With the secretary, Mr. A H. Miller.

In the course of discussion it was decided that the offer of assistance in respect of individual problems, and of advice to men entering camp, should be extended 'to all volunteers called up for service.

Unnecessary Inconvenience

Referring to the arrangements for the departure of Tuesday’s contingent; the executive took the view that it would have been possible for the Army authorities and the Railways Department to improve these materially, without seriously infringing the regulations laid down for the economical movement of troops. Fixing the hour of departure for 2 a.m., it was pointed out, placed upon the relatives and friends of the contingent’s members a decided inconvenience.

“That inconvenience would not be felt if it were necessary,” remarked one speaker. “But it does i.ot seem necessary, and it is reasonable to expect that better arrangements will be made for the future. Men who are going to camp to train for their country’s defence, and facing the almost certain prospect of hazards similar to those faced by the old N.Z.E.F., should be entitled to every honour and every consideration we can extend to them. It is simply not possible to arrange for a proper tribute to them at that hour of the morning.” “Well, I think we can count on the Diggers of the last war to show a proper appreciation of what these men are doing,” the president stated. “I am confident that there will be a strong muster of our fellows to speed the contingent on its way.”