Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1942. BATHS FOR SOLDIERS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1942. BATHS FOR SOLDIERS.

o TN a letter jiublishecl in our columns a few days ago, the local representative of the Patriotic Association said he had been asked officially if he could arrange baths for soldiers lie asked all citizens who were prepared to allow soldiers the use of their bathroom to notify the military authorities to that effect. No doubt there has been a sympathetic response to this appeal, but as a matter primarily 01. fair playto ie soldiers concerned, and a due regard for their health and welfare, it must be hoped that their dependence on private bathrooms will not be allowed to continue a moment longer than is necessary. A number of camps in different parts of the Dominion have been equipped with baths and with facilities for the drying of wet uniforms and other clothing. _ At . any standing miliiarv camps not vet possessed of similar facilities the .making good of the deficiency without delay should be regarded as a matter of imperative urgency. Any avoidable and needless delav in providing reasonably satisfactory equipment lor personal. bathing ami'for the washing and drying of clothing could lie attributed only to serious neglect on the part of the authorities concerned—a state of affairs that should not be tolerated. The fad that soldiers in the'tield often have to undergo extreme deprivations and discomforts in matters of personal, hvgiene affords no excuse whatever lor permitting the continued existence in any standing camp of such conditions as are indicated in the appeal mentioned above. On the contrai}, the provision of adequate facilities for baching and lor the drving of clothing, is not only demanded as a matter 01. ordinary consideration for the soldiers concerned, but is one important and necessary means of doing what is possible to prevent the rise and spread of camp epidemics.