"Taking

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 175, 25 July 1940, Page 6

"Taking

TENTS LEAKY.

BUT SPIRITS HIGH.

AT HOPUHOPU CAMP. DISCOMFORTS EXPERIENCED. WHAT CAUSES THOSE COLDS 7 There are txvo sides to the story of Ho-mliopu military camp—under existing conditions. One story would tell of the cold, the damp, the generally unsheltered conditions—and the sickness that could be pointed to as a result. The other story would tell of the keenness of the men, the splendid progress that has been made in their training, and the wonderful spirit of cheerfulness that is everywhere apparent. The rej>orter-\i>itor to the camp comes away, therefore, with a somewhat con-iti-ed picture —xvith a mind that argues. What should be said, and what left unpaid? A true j tic tare must have something of both sides. What must be made clear is that it is not a grumbling camp. The spirit is remarkable: so remarkable indeed that a visit to the camp would be a tonic to anybody xvho harboured thoughts of a "defeatist'' nature. An Object Lesson. What must be said, also, is that, on the facts that are plain to see, Hopuhopu military camp is a wonderful argument for the policy that has provided the amenities that exist at Papakura and the other well-appointed modern camps! In comparison with Hopuhopu those camps are the height of luxury. The question of necessity comes into the picture. So far as is known, it is not intended that Hopuhopu should be a permanent camp. The officers and X.C.O.'s of the Auckland Territorial Artillery and Engineering units, and the | Kailway Engineer units (for overseas | service i are camped there only until j such time as another camp—similar in j feature to Papakura—is ready for occupation at Waiouru. The men recognile this necessity. They recognised the urgent necessity for defence preparation when they enlisted. They are glad to haxe the opportunity for intensive training. They don't want it to be delayed. They don't want to complain. In fact, they would resent any published complaint that would seem to indicate that their spirit is not of the highest. The facts are against any such suggestion. Wonderful Spirit. There are men in Hopuhopu military camp who have failed to report sick because they thought they eould carry on and they didn't want to miss any of the lectures and the practical work. There are also cases on record where men, after periods of sickness, have been offered a few days' leave and have refused it for a similar reason! Colds are the principal trouble. There haxe been alarmist reports arising from the fact that so many men have been sent to hospital as a result. It is denied, however, that it is influenza; and it k stated that the hospital figures are an indication of the care that is being taken to see that nothing serious arises from the outbreak of colds. A few days' rest and treatment is all that is required in most cases. For this purpose nearly all eases are being cent to hospital at Hamilton. What causes tne colds? There, again, is food for argument. The weather is one reason. Kain and fog haxe been experienced fairly consistently, and even yesterday, when the xveather xvas dry. there was a keen wind blowing across the exposed area of the camp. Fog has been present Almost nightly in that part of the Waikato—and an officer told of having to use a compass to find his way about the camp on one recent night! Tent Discomforts. What is the protection against the weather? Tents, principally . . . 1910 tents . . . xvith board floors. The men