MAORI BATTALION IN CAMP

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 105, 27 January 1940, Page 12

MAORI BATTALION IN CAMP

Scene Of Great Activity At Palmerston Showground SETTLING-IN PROCESS Dominion Special Service. PALMERSTON N., January 26. With the arrival tonight of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast contingent of nearly 200, the lull strength of the Maori Battalion and its first reinforcement, totalling more than SOO officers and men, is now encamped on the Palmerston North Showground. Since the arrival of the first draft early this morning the showground has been the scene of intense activity, as the task of issuing full kit and assigning quarters, witli the serving of good meals in between times, was no light one. That this was carried out in a thoroughly orderly manner sayn much for the work of Major D. Dittmer commanding officer of the battalion, Major G. F. Bertrand, the second in command, and the other officers concerned. All this followed a thorough preparation during tbe past week or more, and the officers of the battalion pay •tribute to the organizing work of the army authorities, officials of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and citizens of Palmerston North. A visit to the showground tonight revealed a scene of bustling activity, but with an entire absence of confusion. The main activity appeared to be Hie making-up of beds and the sorting-out of kits. Even the canteens, both wet and dry, were attending to I lie needs of the men. and the post office section was delivering letters. Early drafts arrived this morning in pouring rain, but the men accepted the conditions witli a characteristic philosophy. The first to arrive was of 385 men "from the Auckland-Waikato areas. Their train was due at 6 a.m., but It was about, two hours late. The South Island and Wellington draft arrived by tlie Wellington-Napier express at one o'clock, the Taranaki section by tlie New Plymouth express, and the Napier-East Coast section just after nine tonight. A tribute to Hie behaviour of tlie men while travelling to Palmerston North was paid by Major Dittmer. The Auckland men, he said, had to travel all night after an arduous day. The guard of the train had assured him that, he had never met a more orderly or cheerful company of troops. During tlie journey they had passed the time with community singing, and Hie utmost cheerfulness had prevailed. Five hundred members of- tlie battalion will travel to Waitangi on Sunday week to participate in the centennial celebrations and will return on February 7.

Tlie camp was inspected yesterday by Colonel R. A. Row, D. 5.0., Officer Commanding tlie Central Military District, who later left for Waiouru camp. He will return to Wellington tomorrow.