CAMP CRITICS WARNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 November 1939, Page 4

CAMP CRITICS WARNED

“SUBVERSIVE PROPAGANDA.”

[per press association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, November 20.

“Many of the complaints received regarding the camps and' the conditions therein are akin to the recent rumour that one of His Majesty’s ships had been engaged in a naval encounter with a large number of casualties. It was an idle rumour containing not a particle of truth.”

The statement was made to-day by the Minister for Defence (Mr Jones), when, after inspecting Burnham Military Camp in detail, he issued a warning against individuals making unfounded reports. His information from the General Staff, he said, was that there appeared to be subversive propaganda going on against the conditions in the camps. “As Minister and' chairman of the Army Board, I have received numerous complaints, regarding the conditions in the camps occupied by the land forces of the Dominion, which constitute part of the Special Force which the Government is raising for service in New Zealand or overseas,” said Mr Jones. “The Chief of the General Staff has informed me that there appears to be subversive propaganda going on against the conditions in the various camps. He has personally inquired into a large number of complaints and has found most of them to be untrue, while others have been most inaccurate. Such propaganda is not helpful and has a tendency to hamper the work of the military authorities. The staff has a big job, and is working as a team towards a common goal.”

Commanding officers and their subordinates, the Minister said, had had impressed upon them the necessity for ensuring the welfare of theii\ men in every respect. Officers, non-com-missioned officers, and men of the Special Force had never before had better conditions than those with which they were now provided. “It is my wish, and also that of other members of the Army Board that individuals should in future be more careful in lodging complaints against the camp conditions, unless such complaints are founded on fact and can be substantiated,” said Mr Jones. “Responsible individuals, representing the people, will be given every opportunity of inspecting any of the camps and seeing for themselves the conditions which are provided for the men. Officers commanding districts will make the necessary arrangements with the camp authorities to permit of these inspections being made.”

The number of men who reported sick at Burnham to-day, was 40, 17 being cases of influenza. “This is the first opportunity I have bad since the transformation has been affected of visiting Burnham, although I 1 had visited the camp on several oc- | casions prior to the outbreak of war,” said Mr Jones. “The change has been almost beyond recognition.” Impressed by the size of the camp buildings which have gone up within 10 weeks. Mr Jones made a close inspection of every phase of operational and administration work at the camp, j He said he was greatly impressed with the type of officers and men and the keenness shown during the various training operations. They were certainly a fine lot of men and observa-l tions supported' the information sup-*

plied to him by officers, that in intelligence, aptitude, and physique the men were above the average of any force that had left New Zealand before.