ALLEGED VANDALISM BY J. FORCE TROOPS AT PAPAKURA

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1947, Page 2

ALLEGED VANDALISM BY J. FORCE TROOPS AT PAPAKURA

P.A. AUCKLAND, May 22. Allegations of widespread hooliganism and vandalism by members oi J Force stationed at Papakura Camp were made at a well-attended meei<ng of residents. A resolution was carried seeking the co-operation ot the military authorties in ‘the appointment of a mobile picquet to patrol the Takanini area on dance nights and urging that all other nights in Takanini be declared out of bounds for ‘the troops. The allegations are that clothes lines are stripped and washing flung to the ground, paddock gates left open so that stock wander out, gardens tramped, and road . pipes smashed. It is stated that following an assault on a young woman, who was an expectant mother, women in the district are afraid to go out at night. When the matter was referred to the camp commandant at Papakura, Colonel G. P. Sands, he declined to comment, other than stating that the two hotels in Papakura had been declared out of bounds and that a picquet is operating.