CAMP CONDITIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1942, Page 2

CAMP CONDITIONS

BATHING AND CLOTHES DRYING AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. CONTRACTS LET AND WORK IN HAND. The member for Masterton, Mr J. Robertson, staled lasi evening that contracts had been let for the installation of bathing, clothes drying and other facilities in military camps in the Wairarapa district and that the work was in hand, it was already in progress in some of the camps and in regard to all the others materials were being prepared and the improvements would be carried out at an early date. “It should be borne in mind,” Mr Robertson observed in commenting on recent criticism of the conditions ruling in some military camps, “that the camps in this district are mobile Service camps and that the men in them are under Service conditions, not under training conditions as in standing camps. On account of war developments in the Pacific, a very rapid mobilisation of large forces became necessary in quick time and a tremendous job was involved in the provision of camp facilities. This has been fairly well recognised by officers and men alike and they have carried out a wonderful amount of improvisation in accordance with the best traditions of active service. Using what materials were available, and showing not a little ingenuity and enterprise, men in some of the camps have improvised mess shelters, cooking ovens, hot and cold showers and drying rooms. “Of the various camps in the Wairarapa,” Mr Robertson added, “some, of course, are better situated than others in regard to facilities, but, speaking generally, the adaptation of material at hand has provided amenities which it was recognised by those in charge of the camps it would have been very difficult for the authorities to provide at short notice. However, with the approach of winter, steps were taken to improve conditions and a fortnight ago contracts were let to the Master Builders of Mastertori and already the work is well under way. The improvements to be carried out comprise the provision of bathing and clothes drying facilities, mess shelters, latrines, camp conveniences, etc. In some of the camps material is already on the ground and the work is being proceeded with.”