NEW CAMP LAYOUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 4

NEW CAMP LAYOUT

MINISTER GRATIFIED IMPROVED FOOD STORES TREATMENT OF SICK (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. General satisfaction with the lay-out of the camp and the facilities for the soldiers was expressed by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, after a very thorough first inspection of the new Papakura camp,

Mr. Jones also visited the Ngaruawahia camp and expressed pleasure at the improvement in the conditions which had resulted from the transfer of a large body of men to Papakura.

“So far as meals are concerned,” said Mr. Jones, “I am satisfied that everything is being done to give variety, and if anybody had the opportunities for seeing the camps that I have had in the last few days, they would be well satisfied with the conditions of keeping, preparing and serving. Papakura had some unfortunate trouble last week-end, but immediate steps are being taken to remedy the position. Tile present cooling system is not absolutely satisfactory, but the installation of refrigerated rooms will effectively prevent any recurrence of the trouble. Orders for this equipment had been given before the outbreak of poisoning.

Influenza Epidemic “The soldiers have been touched by the influenza epidemic, which also has affected civilians,” said Mr. Jones, when speaking of the first echelon’s health. “This has been so at all camps, but when such large bodies of men are brought together, it is likely that an epidemic is more easily spread than in civilian life. However, when tile new Papakura hospital block is completed we will be able to look after them better than ever. lam satisfied that the treatment they have been receiving in the temporary hospital has been quite good, and the parents need not be alarmed because we have been sending men to the public hospitals. This does not mean that the cases have been serious, for nine-tenths of them would not have been sent if they were still in civilian life, but we have decided on this course to give them better treatment and to lessen the dangers of contagion. The system is to .keep them in camp hospital no longer than 48 hours, so that if they need more than that amount of attention they are sent to a public hospital.”