SPECIAL FORCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1939, Page 8

SPECIAL FORCE

MINISTER TO VISIT CAMPS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, November 3.

As soon as he can find time from his official duties in Wellington the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) proposes to pay visits of inspection to mobilisation camps in the Dominion to see for himself what is being done and the training men are receiving. Announcing this in an interview this evening, the Minister said that after several visits to the Trentham camp before the men went in he had recently inspected it again, after they encamped. “I was very pleased indeed with conditions at Trentham,” he said. “Everjrthing was in first-class order.”

MOTOR-VEHICLES DELIVERED.

AUCKLAND, November 3.

The first consignment of motorvehicles to be used in the training of the Special Force was delivered to the camp at Hopwhopu to-day, when 18 trucks were driven from Auckland. Further deliveries are to be made until the full issues of 62 vehicles has been completed. The trucks, which range from lOcwt to three tons, were purchased at the outbreak of war and have’been converted for Army use by 10 Auckland coach-building firms. All the vehicles have been camouflaged. Some are equipped with wireless and others have been provided with antiaircraft and machine-gun mountings.

COOKING FACILITIES.

WELLINGTON, November 3

. /Arrangements for the cooking of food at the Hopuhopu military camp at Ngaruawahia, to which the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Hamilton) referred after his visit this week, were commented on by the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones) in an interview this evening. Mr. Hamilton said that lie would take up with the Minister the question of cooking arrangements. Provision for cooking was inadequate for the number of men to be served, and the position was serious enough to warrant his bringing it before the Minister.

Mr. Jones said to-night that he had not yet received Mr. Hamilton’s representations. “One of the difficulties so far as Hopuhopu is concerned is that facilities for cooking are not just as good as we would have liked them to be,” he said. “But opinions that have been expressed to me by other people who have been there are that the transfer of half the forces to the new Papakura camp during the next few days will relieve the situation. There should not be any further complaint in respect of the rations or food that the men receive.” The Minister said that cooks at the Hopuhopu camp were working under difficulties and had done their best under the circumstances. The transfer of men was starting immediately and. would continue for the next few days. Practically half the men would be transferred to Papakura, and that would relieve the situation.