FOOD AT THE CAMP

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 471, 26 February 1925, Page 5

FOOD AT THE CAMP

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ' COMPLAINT CAPTAIN 7 ’ WALES ‘REPLIES Captain. Wales, Adjutant Ist Battalion Wellington West Coast 'Regiment, was in Feilding yesterday, and was interviewed regarding the tom plaint about the food at the Tern tonal camp held in Wanganui in aml " ary. It will be remembered that at the meting of the Chamber of Com-, meree on the 16th rust, a- resolut.on was'passed.asking that inquiries be mad e with a view to forwarding a letter to the Minister of Defence. Captain Wales said the authorities had been particularly careful regarding the food and the general conditions at fLe camp. The cooking was done by the military —it- was not a case of employing .ail, outside caterer Tim best man available was ensagwl,

and on most days the food for the officers was cooked at the same oven .as that for the men. As is customary in camps, orderlies were appointed for each group of men, and .the Territorials were; asked at each meal if they had any complaints. No complaints were reported.,.. It was not at all to the interest of the military authorities to permit the' men t.o he

badly fed—rather the v other way

The first .consideration when arrangI ijijr for a camp was the. fond, os they knew if the troops were not properly fed, the camp could pot foe successful.

Captain Wales said that before the Feilding Territorials left for the camp Sqrgt.-Major Ryan had explained the conditions .to them and advised them that they, .should com-

plain if they did not receive gopd food and plenty of .it. font that it would not be of any use grumbling -because There was cither too much or too little sugar ipr the .tea, ior for such -things, whjch would not (be .considered as legitimate complaints.

Th e cninp was inspected by a medical .officer daily, and the' trainees had to gargle their throats 1 twice a day, .the medical officers were particularly careful regarding tile "health of the camp, blankets and bedding were carefully examined frequently to pnSiiro that no one. had damp, blankets or mattresses, this extra precaution being taken because the ~weather was wet.

The camp was really a particularly happy one. On the last ij?ght helore breaking up, a social gathering was held, where the feeling was as jolly as could bo, and there was not the. slightest sign of any discontent. There wer c Territorials in the camp from districts stretching front! T,onmarunui to .Otaki, and not one com-• -* plaint had been .received from any place .except .Feilding. Hp had seen some of the Feilding hoys since, and they had informed him they had no complaints to make. . . ’ Captain "Wales admitted, however, that he had since the camp, met one territorial' with a grievance. A well known jockey*, who had attended had' complained that lie had put ’.on too l much weight while in camp and had had to oxforcise himself afterwards to get back, to riding weight ! j Regarding the statement that the camp had been unduly prolonged Captain, Wales said this was incorrect. The town Territorials, were* expected to put six days in camp, plus a day coming and a day going. This the. Feeding Territorials Tiad’xlone. The Qpidaiir addjed that two FeiTdfng , boy* applied to leave .camp earlier than ;the breaking up time, as they wished to ge t j hack to take part in a. tenuis, match. The appli* ntion had been granted (it was supported foy Sergli.-Major Rynir), , and the boys ■ loffc camp earlier. One of those hoys was the employee of Mr Tolley, who had made the complaint before the Chamber of Commerce.,. Tbe military authorities were anxious to .meet the wishes j()f employers in arranging for the camps, and had frequently done so. They desired to carry out the regulations as smoothly ■ as possible for all concerned.