MAN IN UNIFORM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13238, 14 January 1941, Page 4

MAN IN UNIFORM

HEALTH AND RECREATION

LESS WASTAGE THROUGH SICKNESS As a result of long experience theArmy knows it has to make allowance for a daily wastage due to sickness. This will vary in sympathy with the environment imposed on it by the exigencies of its service, but in training camps where conditions are more or less stable valuable comparisons are possible.

A daily sickness wastage of three per thousand would be regarded by any commanding officer as normal* but Trentham's sick rate comes out better. It is two per thousand. Epidemics of measles and infiuenza, coinciding with similar outbreaks in the civilian population, have caused fluctuations, but two per thousand is *

the figure which usually prevails. In the camp hospital there are fifty beds. Six nurses, assisted by medical orderlies form the nursing staff and the hospital cooks are all women. When Mr Wheeler was inspecting Trentham he was handed a series of admission records for examination. They gave him an opportunity to check the health results of camp diet. He says that he looked over the records for evidence of dietetic weaknesses. A mid-winter weekly return showed "Nil" in the column for dietetic troubles and also disclosed the reassuring fact that the total admissions for the period had been 34 or less than one a day per thousand men then in camp. Diatetic troubles, he says,. hardly ever appeared—there was a recent week with two cases. "Parents will "be interested inwhat happens to a man who is 'oft' colour'," he goes on. "Each training; unit has its own medical officer. If the soldier is unable to face the clay's duties, he goes to his Regimental Aid Post, that is if he is able to get out. of his bed. Otherwise his condition is reported and a visit from the medical officer follows. At the Regimental Aid Post the soldier's condition is investigated, and if the illness is mild, he is given medicine, ordered light diet and excused from duty. But the medical officer may consider him a hospital case. If so, he goes back to his sleeping quarters to await an ambulance. Men who are running a temperature must not parade for medical examination—a sensible precaution which the old hands at Trentham would have appreciated in their time."

"Unofficial organisations did a fine service for the soldiers of the Great War and to-day's activities are much the same with the facilities more extensive," says Mr Wheeler, "and they are supplemented by a spacious wet canteen which seats three hundred m.en and has a 'no shouting' rule. The social centres at Trentham are numerous—the Y.M.C.A., the Salvation Army, Church Army, Catholic and Everyman's Hut. (conducted by the Brethren) all provide for letter-writing, reading, recreation and social enjoyment. Give the soldier a place in which to gather, a piano, and he can make his own fun. However, there are experienced officers in charge of fhese attractive places who organise things well and it is characteristic of their broad outlook on life that the ten billiard tables in the big Y.M.C.A. are available on Sundays when a two-hour programme is also arranged in the main hall. The programme includes pictures (one religious film), a short reading from the scriptures and a talk from the padre, usually under ten minutes. Then the men see more pictures, something humorous this time."

Padres are provided with comfortable little nrivate rooms at these camp- social centres, and the soldier who desires a quiet talk with these chaplains finds opportunities. Bible classes and meetings for men who prefer a more devotional atmosphere are not overlooked.

Trentham's library service is in a central building-. One of Wellington's best known librarians who retired from service prior to the outbreak of war, comes back into hard work as a sergeant in charge of the Central Camp Library with its 4,500 volumes and a reading room stocked with a full selection of New Zealand daily newspapers (thanks to the generositv of their proprietors). There have been as many as 1.400 soldiers in this commodious librarv at one time. While fiction is the most popular fare, the librarian caters carefully for more serious tastes ana calls on the Country Library Service when special books are wanted. The development of mechanisation in the Army is reflected in the technical section of the library where the soldier may also study military manuals. Radio sets are constantly found in the men's hutments and when thi? fact was mentioned to the CamP Commandant, Colonel IT. D. McH»g". he informed Mr Wheeler that there were 255 radio bbints in use-r-tbe soldier of 1941 is a listener.