Burnham Camp

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30482, 2 July 1964, Page 12

Burnham Camp

Sir, —Having occasion to visit Bumham Military Camp, I was disgusted to see some of the conditions which the men who are called up for compulsory training have to put up with. The toilets are rotting with age, no personal privacy, and the smell something terrible, and even barbed wire stretched down the centre. Their huts have no. heating, although it had been promised; No wonder there are so many of the men with health Complaints. Is it true that the health authorities are not permitted to inspect the camp? If so, why not? It is time the Army woke up to the fact that they Cannot treat the men as machines, or animals, if they want men to volunteer for service. Now, most of the men can’t wait for they day when they will be out. Do you blame them?—Yours, etc., DISGUSTED.

Ashburton, June 22, 1964. [Lieutenant-Colonel R. J. Moor, Chief of Staff, Southern Military District, comments: “It is recognised that living conditions at the National Service Training Unit are of spartan standard. However, in view of the temporary nature of the unit’s stay in Burnham, and the accommodation building programme now in progress there, the expense involved in fully refurbishing the N.S.T.U; accommodation Is not warranted. The health authorities often visit the camp and have found facilities there adequate."]