MILITARY CAMPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23916, 18 September 1939, Page 6

MILITARY CAMPS

INSPECTION BY MINISTERS EXCELLENT PROGRESS MADE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. The camps and military depots in and about Wellington were inspected yesterday by a parliamentary party accompanied by senior military officers. The party comprised the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), Mr W. E. Barnard, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr J. A. Lee and Mr j; Hargest. M.P.’s. Major-general J. E. Duigan, Chief of the , General Staff, Lieutenant-colonel W. G. Stevens, and Mr C. A. Berendsen, permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department. The object of the party was to examine the, preparations made for the defence of the city and for the reception and training both of the men called up for that purpose and of the Wellington section of the special force now being raised. Particular attention was paid by . Ministers to the accommodation, clothing, bedding, food, washing and other facilities. Both Mr Fraser and Mr Jones later said they were satisfied that all phases of the work were Well in hand and were 'being most creditably performed. They were also impressed by the enormous amount of work that had' been done in a short time, and were confident that all the necessary steps were being taken to ensure the comfort and welfare of the men who had so promptly placed their services at the disposal of the country. Some of the men had had a difficult time in the first few days when the initial stages o£ mobilisation were in progress, but these difficulties had been rapidly overcome and excellent camping provision was now being made.