THE NEW CAMPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 167, 15 July 1915, Page 7

THE NEW CAMPS.

TENDERS FOR SUPPLIES. AN AUCKLAND COMPLAINT. (By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON". Wednesday. The Minister for Defence was asked by Mr. Harris whether he will ,=ee that all future tenders for supplies for the Trent ham camp and the transports are railed for subject to delivery at anr of the chief centres of the Dominion. ' Hi' stated that Auckland firms who recently tendered for supplies; for the hospital ship were unfairly handicapped on account of having to tender c.i.f. Wellington. The Hon. J. Allen replied: "I do not consider that Auckland firms are unfairly treated. They always supply the Samoan garrison and the canteen at Samoa. The Maori camp contracts are now with Auckland firms. They are on the same footing as rhrUtehureh and i Dunedin in regard to tendering for the J supplies required for the troopships and j Trentharn camp, and neither of these centres has complained. If we wore to ask for tenders f.o.b. Auckland the Department would have to take all risk of damage and loss in transit, and the stores would, 'have to be inspected in Auckland." STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegrapfc.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The work at the new camps was proceeding smoothly, stated the Minister of Defence to-nigh:, in response to a question from b "Xew Zealand Times" reporter. The camp at Waikanae'had ix-en placed in a satisfactory condition, iritb the tents properly pitched and provided with floors, and the men who had ken at Levin over the week-end were going to Waikanae on the following day in continue their training. The director of military hospitals had reported that the camp was ready for occupation. The Minister aided that the other forces ■would he to their new camps speedily. The arrangements for the ttainina of the various sections under the new conditions were well In hand. The members of the sixth infantry reinforcements were etill in Trentham camp »nd were remaining there. SICKNESS IS DECREASING. J!t Telegraph.—rnrlinmeutary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Hon. James Allen informed mc tonight that two bad cases at Trentham had been reported during the day from the 7th Reinforcements. These patients had previously been in hos-pital at Tauherenikau cain-p. No fresh cases had occurred, while at Waikanae the two bad cases had shown improvement. There *ere forty cases of measles at Palmerston Xorth. hut all were light attacks. Tie system of daily medical paradee woe having a good effect in checking the disease in it.s early staire. The men at Awapuni camp will all be placed in the Bainesse camp on Thursday. A SAD DISCOVERY. "There is no question about it. matters have been very unsatisfactory in connection with Trentham camp." declared Mr. W. D. S. Mao Donald. M.P. for the Bay of Plenty this evening. The ' difficulty of obtaining reliable official information fssppctim the men in camp has been emphasised by another instance that ha? jurt en mc under my notice. 'On Saturday the Prime Minister is reported to have annojneed that no further deaths had occurred in connection with the camp sir.cc the previous Wednesday. On Thursday morning a lady arrived at Wellingtnii 'f rnrll KotoTufl to visit and inquire after n friend, a young fellow, *liose rrlativt-s had been advised he wa* kick. The lady visiu-d the camp on Th irnd.iv afternoon, only to find a-corpse and a ticket pinr.ed to" the unfortunate To-jn? fr-llow's coat, stating h.- had died at two minutes paei nine that morning. Thit feerrrd :i -traicht out contradiction to the Prime Minster's statement. The collier in r, U en:on was Private A. Clark. 7th Reinf r ..,-n.ent.-. and the lady re-fer.-el tn w.i- Mr- Blencowe. of Rotorua. wh> ?tron-:. < miplaine of the state of the camp. n n 1 .ifdare.H that in her opinion the gick wr-re no; Retting fairplay. Thi mp:,,),er for the Bay of Plenty "fed that it was reassuring to lenrri ♦lint the m, ! , ;i an 1 nurriti? staff naa no-; bren s,tri-a S tlicned. and that much bettor attention was now being afforded i" »I 1 ca.es of sieknnw. There was> anon « matter that lie Ilioupht required attention. Patriotic committee, throu?U«ut th. Domini n had been working nara »nd cillpctir.j funds for the pare ol tr,e founflefl .md other purposes. He thmiii . ■t would be a pood thing if some of tmmoney wag devoted to the comfnrt oi •wneof the unfortunate young men nou *k at Trer.ttiam. It bad come under Vi notice that a member of Parliament

had recently visited one of the hospitals to inquire afle. one of the soldiers. He enw the young le-llow, who had been very ill. He had 1. ,n removed from Tren tnam in an unconscious condition, and had remain,!; j n that state for three daj=. The severity of his illness yas Mil evident by hie shaky condition, yet In , wore a big pair of heavy Trontham I'iH.U that might well have been replaced i>y a pair of comfortable slippers. Patriotic committees, he thought, might well mnl.e some inquiries and see if they could not provide a few such comforts for these unfortunate boys still in hospital.