STRONG CRITICISM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1942, Page 2

STRONG CRITICISM

STATE OF MILITARY CAMPS IN WAIRARAPA DISTRICT DISCUSSION AT POWER BOARD MEETING. PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT. (“Times-Age” Special.) A strong protest against Lie state of affairs that existed in district military camps, and in a hospital established for soldiers, was made, at the meeting of the "Wairarapa Power Board yesterday, by Mr W. A. Tate. ./ Other members of the board supported Sir Tate’s criticism. Mr Tate said that at Greytown a military hospital had been established to which sick men were taken to be treated by the Military Corps stationed in the district. In this hospital very little accommodation was provided, the heating was bad and as a result of the conditions ruling it was found necessary to remove the men to the Odd Fellows’ Hall. To make this place as it should be for a hospital, the Patriotic Society approached the authorities regarding the installation of facilities, but got no satisfaction. Rather than let these sick men suffer, the Patriotic body made a move and got into touch with the Power Board, whose staff worked for twelve hours one day to complete a necessary and much-needed job at the hall, putting in heating appliances, hot water- services and other fittings. This all cost money and the question was who is to pay. He had. felt, it his duty to bring this matter before the board. Mr C. R. Holmes said Mr Tate deserved great credit for bringing the • matter up. It seemed to him, said Mr Holmes, that the conditions criticised were the best way to break the morale of the men. Mr Tate said that very little had been done to look after the boys. They had not had proper mess quarters. In some camps they had to take their meals any old way. They had no facilities for drying wet clothes and day in and day out went about in wet garments. Was it any wonder there was sickness? Mr F. C. Daniell said he understood steps were being taken to supply the necessary mess huts and drying sheds. Mr Holmes said all this should have been done long ago and not left until winter set in. Some camps were in a state of bog and now the authorities were making a move, six months too late. It was said the men were to be made tough. That was all right, but it looked as if the tough way was to put them into hospital. Mr Tate said the board had decided to do ■ the job on the authority of the Greytown Patriotic Committee and he thought the military authorities should get the account. One camp, Mr Tate added, was in. a shocking state and the men had been getting their meals standing up round the cook houses. It was only now that arrangements have been begun to erect mess huts. The men washed and shaved in the open and had some sort of aplace where hot and cold showers were obtainable. Even this was not covered, just protected by some manuka brought to the property from other places. For days the boys had not known what it was to have dry feet and in fact dry clothes. Was there any wonder* that many of the men were laid up? Mr N. C. C. Shepherd also spoke concerning the conditions the men had been facing at another camp. Although this place was wet, the men were better treated because the buildings were available. Mr Tate’s action in arranging for the work at Greytown to be done by the board was approved. It was resolved that a protest be made to the Defence Minister and to the Premier against the state of affairs in. military camps in the Wairarapa. Mr Holmes said that so long as the public sat down and took it, and pooled the bill, just so long they might do so. Another complaint was raised concerning a party of soldiers who reached Greytown from the north. Nothing was ready for the men on arrival and arangements had to be made for billeting them in the Parish Hall. This again was considered bad management and bungling.