GREAT WORK

Hawera Star, Volume L, 13 February 1931, Page 6

GREAT WORK

ORGANISATION AT P.N. TOWN DESERVES “PRAISE WITHOUT STINT’’ A Hawera resident who has visited the camp at the Showgrounds at Fa-lm-\ e-rston North speaks well of the organisation of the camp. He says it is really wonderful what has been accomplished! in less than a week, and on Tuesday one would think that the camp had been established much longer. The sanitation, latrine and lavatory arrangements, are equal now to any standing camp. He had been informed that on Wednesday morning of last week an order was issued by the Minister of Defence that 12,000 bankets and sheets, 300 paillasses 000 tents and cooking utensils to cook for 3000 refugees were to be dispatched from Trentham to Palmerston North immediately. Oh Thursday morning b> 11 a m. those at the showgrounds were ready to receive the refugees, when parties were formed to f and bv 5.30 p.m. over 1000 retugeeb were able to sit down to a hot meal ml camp. All the blankets, etc., were unloaded from the railway trucks and placed in one of the large produce' sheds at the showgrounds and as the refugees arrived they drew each 4 bhankets, one oil sheet, and 1 palliasse filled with straw AVher© one family occupied one 1 tent these blankets, etc were issued in bulk (according to the numhei m j the family) to each tent. This goes fn, show what can he done m such a shoit space of time and in proper organisatl<Xh© Manawatu Automobile Association is doing great work, some cars beintr continuously in action since last Wednesday week and when asked to do certain runs they do them right ilU The Legion of Frontiersmen, also is doing good work. They are in chaige of the gates and parties are at the railway station almost continuously. 'The' nurses and doctors, also Reel Cross and St. John’s Ambulance,, are working without complaint tor 15 hours per day. , , . . ..... The system adopted is as follows. Each refugee (man, woman or child) when entering camp registers at the building at the main gate and receives a card; they are then taken for a meal, and then tliey draw tlieir blankets, etc. Their luggage is all carted by lorries j into camp. Chi Tuesday night by the 9.30 train 70 had arrived and they i were bedded down by 10.30. _ i The personal of the camp is as willows: The Mayor and Mr. Nash, AI.P. at the head of affairs for Palmerston North; camp colonel J. H. Whyte, camp commandant, Major Potter, with the following officers, Major Stevens, camp quartermaster; Captain Gentry, officer commanding records; Captain McCaskell, officer commanding billeting- Captain Hunt, officer commanding O.M. Stores; Captain Joyce, officer commanding rations and messes; staff, S.M. Ryan, camp sergeant major; staff S.M. Cedorman, camp Q.M fear-o-eant; Sergeant Major Rudd and Kid--1 man, sanitation ; Sergeant Alajor Sharp 'and Baker, transport; S’. A 1 Thompson, ’fatigue parties; S.M. Selim, cook-

louses. , , ~ These are assisted by 0'.31. Fitz- j rerald Sergt. Nolan and various members of the N.Z. permanent forces. There were approximately 1500 in the lamp on Tuesday. The evening meal which consisted of roast beef, mutton, boiled potatoes, boiled turnips and cabbage ; stewed plums, stewed apples and boiled rice, was got off m three sittings in a little over two hours. Everything is served on crockery ( no tin plates or mugs) and there is a continuous stream of ladies and_ men washing and drying crockery and cutlery after the meals. Proper receptacles are placed at convenient places for refuse, which are emptied three times each day, and very little goes wasted. The Governor-General visited the camp on Tuesdav and went through every particle of it on inspection. That evening there was an open air silent picture show. A screen was erected! on the oval and the grand stand acted as an auditorium, everybody especially the kiddies, enjoying it thoroughly, and to hear the laughing one would think they had not a care m the world, all the pictures being comedies. . , Things are now running perfectly. j Every train that comes in is met by Mr. Nash, M.P., and his staff and the refugees conducted to cars and taken to the showgrounds. Everybody is doing great work and. all willingly. One must hand out praise to Palmerston North without stint. Regarding the records department at the camp, each person who has regis- . tered there can be traced if they have ' left the camp. There is a great card I filing system and anybody inquiring for ' by inquiry at the office, can | find out when they arrived, and the number of the tent in which to find them. If they have been billeted out, they can be told where; if left the town they can he told where they have'gone' to. It was estimated that there "were on Tuesday 5000 refugees in the camp and billeted out in Palmerston North.