MANY VISITORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 196, 19 August 1940, Page 5

MANY VISITORS.

RED-LETTER DAY.

, AT PAPAKURA CAMP.

TEA IN THE MESSROOMS.

Steaming tea drunk out of enamel army mugs in the men's messrooms was a treat enjoyed by thousands of mothers, fathers, wivee, sweethearts, friends and children in Papakura military camp yesterday afternoon. It was a gala day in the camp, although tears followed hard on the gaiety and laughter as closing time drew near and visitors reluctantly made for home.

Glorious spring-like weather, with brilliant sunshine and a cloud-flecked blue, sky contributed to the happiness of soldiers and visitors. The camp was'full of music and singing. A deeply religious note was introduced in the early part of the afternoon, when the band played "Nearer My God. to Thee/ , and soon afterwards came the amplified swell of hymn singing, as the "Tantum Ergo" rolled on the breeze from the enlarged Catholic hutment which was bleseed and opened by Bishop Liston. Mothers Bring Tasty Things. Inside the men's messrooms at afternoon tea time there were jolly family reunions. Mothers and wives unpacked handbags stuffed with tasty things. As sandwiches, shortbread and jam tarts were spread, dixies of tea were brought in from the cookhouses. Hilarity was the keynote at this stage of the afternoon, as enamel mugs were "issued" arnii the boys clipped out lashings of tea toi their gueste. Here and there a pair of lovers—perhaps newly-weds, for there have been many marriages of late—sat alone, ienoring the noisy groups about them. Older soldiers made- much of their youngsters, carrying them around on

their shoulders. Milee of film must have been exposed, ae family groups stood laughing before the cameras of amateurs and professionals. There was the usual interest in the changing of the guard, when Fourth Reinforceine-nt N.C.O.'s in training were relieved by a smart guard of Maori infantry. 4000 Motor Cars. (Traffic officers in motor cars and on motor cycles, civil and military police, and epecial duty men in battle drees, worked till their throats and arms ached in controlling the traffic. Never has there been such an afternoon since Papakura camp was established. An experienced inspector said that he had never known, euch a stream of traffic on the Great South Road. Care filled with relatives and friends totalled not lese than 4000, he said. Thousands of people began to leave the city soon after noon, and by 1 p.m. the procession of cars provided a rare spectacle in these lays of petrol-rationing. The special parking ground behind the camp, usually sufficient to accommodate all care on a visiting day, was rapidly filled to overflowing; Some 1500 cars were parked along McLennan's Koad and other roads. It became necessary to open the McLennan's Road gate near the administration building. Thousands more cars were admitted and parked on the large training field. Traffic Difficulties. By mid-afternoon the outlying sections of the camp resembled a racecourse parking reserve, with rows of shining cars neatly marshalled. Despite the businesslike efficiency of those directing the traffic, there were hold-ups. The first of these occurred unexpectedly, about two miles from the camp, on the Great South Road, when drivers travelling at about 40 miles an hour were compelled to come i to a sudden standstill. Accidents were i narrowly avoided in a number of cases, : when right hands did not go up quickly > enough in warning. Following this ex- • p*>rienee ; a traffic-control car passed hcitywards along the line of cars, an inspector warning drivers, by loudspeaker, to w.atch for the stops. From - then on cars proceeded at a crawl, with i numerous stops. Six or seven constables , were dispatched from Auckland in niidV . afternoon to assist in the difficult work - of controlling traffic. When the main i stream of cars - was. entering the camp

gates, the procession extended back towards the city for over five miles, almost bumper to bumper. Much Giving Of Gifts. There was less delay on the homeward journey, as cars were carefully controlled when leaving the camp gates, care being taken to allow a decent interval between each. The official time for visitors to leave was 4.30, but the majority of people made no move to leave till* long after that. There was much giving and receiving of gifts throughout the afternoon. In the dry canteen, which was, as usual, wide open for business, the long arcade was jammed with a slow-moving press of soldiers and visitors. Cash-registers maintained a long, silvery song. Cigarettes sold by the thousand. All the visitors seemed to have plenty of money to spend on their uniformed menfolk.

Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the Maori Battalion Reinforcement were favoured with an uncommonly large number of visitors. Everywhere about the camp, in the great press of civilians and soldiery, the musical accents of the Maori tongue were heard. One Maori lad, seated at the piano in one of the entertainment huts, held the interest of a large throng by playing a number of favourites, ancient and modern. His most popular item was Graeie Fields' wartime theme song "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye." His friends could sing, and this happy group of native people soon had a large pakeha circle around them, all thoroughly enjoying themselves. Maoris Rub Noses. One aged Maori woman came all the way. from Whakatane, supported by members of her family, and the pity of it was that there was no one to photograph the affecting scene as Maori lads in battle-dress were greeted in traditional style. Among visitors who came long distances for the "At Hoihe," was Mrs. George Whitehead, aged 92, of Kaeo, who insisted on making the journey so that she might visit a grandson. How many people visited the camp yesterday will never be known. Maybe there were 17,000, certainly not fewer, but in any case it was a record attendance, which greatly heartened the men. On previous Sundays it has been notice -.1 able that some of the soldiers from the]

far south were without visitors, but yesterday everyone seemed to be happy with friends. Doubtless this goes to show that the loneliest of eoldiers have, during the months of training, taken advantage of leave periods to acquire new friends in and about Auckland.

Staffs in the Y.M.C.A. and other service huts worked wonders in providing refreshments for men and visitors. Once again it was apparent to all that these huts, with their comfortable furnishings and amenities for relaxation, help make military life much brighter for men under training. Crowded trains left for Auckland late in the afternoon, and six big buses, which had brought a contingent of visitors from Hamilton, returned fully laden.