Sign Of Treachery

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21204, 29 August 1940, Page 6

Sign Of Treachery

BLAZE AT WAIOURU £BOOO DAMAGE AT CAMP NEW BLOCK FOR MESS MINISTER GIVES OPINION (By Telegraph.—Press Association) GREYMOUTH, Wednesday An announcement that he had been advised by the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department that the mess accommodation in course of construction for 850 men at the Waiouru military camp was destroyed by fire at midnight last night, was made by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, addressing a meeting of local body representatives in Greymouth tonight. Mr Semple said the building cost over £BOOO. He had been told there was grave suspicion of treachery. He was of the opinion it could not happen any other way, as no fires or electric light were installed. “We have the Fifth Column in this country,” said Mr Semple. “It is not strong, but it is here, and the best v/ay to stop it is to organise men and women so that they can find out where it is. You will find out where they are, and. if you do, let us know and we will let them know where they will be, too. “Apart altogether from the defence of the Dominion, for God’s sake get together and blot out treachery in this country.” The Minister said there were examples of treachery in many other countries romped over by Hitler and they were not going to have it here. DORMITORIES SAVED RAPID SPREAD OF FIRE The task of extinguishing the flames when the new mess accommodation caught fire was a hopeless one, according to information from Waiouru, as only buckets were available, and the heat prevented these being used effectively. Nearby dormitories ware threatened when the wind carried the flames, and the men concentrated on saving these. One side of the block, which was in the shape of an H, was destroyed within half an hour and the fire rapidly spread through connecting kitchens to the other side. Within another hour the whole of the block was blazing fiercely with sections of wall and roof crashing in a shower of sparks at intervals. For hours the fire continued until the large block was reduced to a mass of charred timber and crumpled iron. The wreckage was still smouldering late yesterday afternoon.

Detective J. Murray, of Wanganui, has been sent to the camp to make an investigation.

SOON BUILD ANOTHER TIME LEFT TO CONTRACTORS ARMED GUARD ON CAMP (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday “The contractors will soon build another messrocm,” said the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr J. Wood, when commenting this morning on the fire at Waiouru military camp. He said the building, a large wooden one built to accommodate 700 or 800 men, cost approximately £7OOO. Fortunately, the kitchen equipment had not been installed. Apart from' that the building was practically ready for use. When the workmen left the building on Monday night everything was in order. The fire evidently broke out late at night. The building had been erected about three weeks, and as the contractors had to have everything ready by the end of September for the beginning of the training of territorials in October, there was ample time to replace it. The destroyed building was insured by the contractors. Fire Service Not Extended The mess room was on the outskirts of the can p on the eastern side, and was one of the farthest away from the parade ground, which is the centre of the original camp. Built last year, it was about 250 yards distant from the parade ground. The original camp was supplied with a fire-fighting service and highpressure water supply. This service had not been extended into the area where the new mess room was being built. Water and sewerage services are being extended as the building programme proceeds. Much of the equipment, including boilers, had been installed in the new mess room. Accompanying Detective J. Murray in the investigation are Constables S. H. Cave ar*i C. Stewart, of Ohakune. An armed guard was placed on the camp last night. Thorough Investigation The matter would be thoroughly investigated and no effort spared to discover the cause of the fire, said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. If sabotage were proved, those responsible would be dealt with in the most rigorous fashion. An inquiry was already under way and would be carried out in the most efficient manner. Such happenings must not be allowed to interfere wilh the war effort.