TRENTHAM CAMP

Evening Star, Issue 24008, 6 October 1941, Page 5

TRENTHAM CAMP

PARTIAL FLOODING IN WEATHER BLITZ (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The tents used to accommodate part of the troops now training in Trentham Camp became flooded as a result of the record rainfall in Wellington last week; and, although the majority of the men housed in huts suffered no inconvenience, some of those in the tents experienced trying conditions. A special visit to the affected part of the camp was made yesterday by the Director-General of Medical Services, Brigadier P. Bowerbank, and Army engineers accompanied him. Additional drainage of the affected area has already been put in hand. The camp was visited to-day by the Minister of Defence, Mr' Jones, who was advised that the men whose tents had become flooded had been issued with dry palliosses and extra waterproof sheets where necessary. The Minister said later that everything pos-

sible was being done to guard against flooding should there be a recurrence of the downpour. The exceptionally heavy rain not only seeped through the tents, but also accumulated on the ground in such quantities that some of the tents became flooded. Every effort was made by the camp authorities to meet the exceptional conditions, and the majority _of the men were accommodated in the canteen and other buildings, and in the Y.M.C.A. hut. The remainder were transferred to the dry tents available, and a motor-driven pump was put to work to remove the surface water. The remainder of the camp, including the mobilisation camp proper, was not flooded.