AUCKLAND CLAIM.

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

AUCKLAND CLAIM.

FOR A MILITARY CAMP. (By Telegraph.— rnrliiiruentary Reporter.) Wellington*. Wednesday. lwo Auckland members had someI thing to say tlii> afternoon concerning i the desirability of establishing n military camp at Auckland. .Mr A. K. ; Ulover, reading a teiegvam from th* Mayor of Auckland bearing on the subijupt, sniil feeling ran high throughout I the Domiuion concerning the Trontham trouble, and he hoped that Auckland's jiu-t claims for a camp would receive. J consideration. I Mr A. Myers said he was alive to tho ii.iportanco of Colonel Gibbons' report bearing on the camp question, but ho 1 boliered t!;ere was o groat deh'l to bo i s:iid for local camp*. When Colonei Gibbons wrou- his report he probably was not aware of Karl Kitchener's ; recent speech in London, statin? that more and more liit'ii were required. Since probably the largest number of rocruita came from Auckland, Auckland should receive some consideration, lie believed it would materially assist rocruiting if local camps were established. One-tree Hill presented an ideal site. There was ample space, aud fclie conditions were of the healthiest. There would he no chance of moaelcj obtaining a hold in Auckland, owing to tho temperature never falling below a certain degree. Oning to the way in which recruiting had fallen off. it was highly necessary that the whole position should lie reviewed. AUCKLAND MOTIVES. The Wellington "Evening Post.' , in an editorial, says:—"Before the Royal Commission has heard one witness on the subject of Treuthatn camp, various unauthorised commissions are assuming] prematurely that the Hutt Valley ground will not be reoceupicd l>y the scattered forces. Various districts are offering- mare or less sandy sites. They are all easier, naturally, to have the 1 soldiers near them. Auckland business men are particularly active, and tho qualities of One-tree Hill are being impreyed on the Prime Minister and on the Minister of Defence. New Zealand knows -.veil that when Auckland folk set their minds and hearts on an object tliov 'have n yiersis teiioo which is proor against all sarcasm, ridicule, or even official condemnation, l> the 'Knvvett case" forgotten? Is m\t Auckland's Government House remembered? To-day a much-distracted Government with a singularly slender majority is caught be tween" Mr Gunson in the north and .Mr Parr here, both formidable lighters. They are young men who have proven their ability and perseverance, and it will not bo their fault if One-tree Hill does not become a monument to another Auckland victory. We should hp very sorry tn witness an epidemic of parochialism in these compptitions for camps. There is no suggestion Ihat Auckland has not the highest motives in advocating its own claims, just na other district* are doing, hut it will be better to have this matter decided by an impartial tribunal—tile Royal Commission. Auckland's Mayor, the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, and the member for Mount Eden may helievo in the pre-eminence of One-tree Hill, but the public will prefer an independent judgment, after all available information has been obtained, including" , facts of rainfall, particularly in winter anil spring."

WAIMARENO AND CAMBRIDGE.

The Minister for Defence informed Mr. Jennings (Taumaninui) that he would he pleased to consider the Waimurino Plains as n po"ihle military camp, and will make inquiries about t lie report of the Joint Selection Committee, which inquired into tlie matter a few years a2O. Mr. Allen also informed Mr. Young (Waikato) that should it be decided to establish provincial military training camps the claims of tihe Cambridge di6trict will receive every consideration.