MUD AT FEATHERSTON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2791, 8 June 1916, Page 4

MUD AT FEATHERSTON

, 'AN ALARMIST EEPORT. A complaint regarding conditions at "Oanyastown," at Featherston camp, was mentioned in the House yesterday l>y Mr. Poole. He read a statement to the effect that during recent Tret/weather mud about the tents was up to the men'? knees, and that the men's palliftsses and the blankets which the men hnd to sleep in were wet. CoTone" .MDonald, it waa 6tated, had condemned the camp as unfit to live in. It was said that. there was a good deal of sickness in the camp as a result of the had conditions. The Minister of Defenco (the Hon. J; Allen) said that there was no twisou wfiafever to be alarmed In regard to sickness at the camp. The percentage of sickness was extraordinarily low. It' was true that during wet weather the conditions at the canvas camp were not as oomfortablo as might be desired. He could not understand the statement Tegarulhg wet blankets, but he would have inquiries made concerning it. In any wise titere was no Teason wliy men should sleep 1n wet blankets, as dry blankets could be obtained. Every tent had a wooden floor. Provision had_ been made for shifting the tents as required. later in the afternoon, the Minister read a telephoned report f rom the' Camp Adjutant, stating that the.camp was in good order, and that stone paths were being put down in tho damp parts of the camp where there was any traffic. It was added that there was no ground- for the complaint that had been made regarding sickness. ~