WAIORU CAMP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 219, 14 August 1940, Page 8

WAIORU CAMP.

MINISTER’S OUTLINE. GOOD APPOINTMENTS. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. “There is no reason for the hysterical protests and exaggerated reports which have been published regarding the conditions at the Waiouru Territorial Camp,” declared Hon. R Semple (Minister of Public Works) who, with the Under-Secretary (Mr J. Wood) has just inspected the area. 1 ‘There is a certain amount of black soil on the surface. It has taken some time to" remove this on an area of about ten acres in order to get down to dry pumice, but this has been done with mechanised units. The surface will now be as dry as a bone. It can be covered with grit and the parade grounds can be sealed to avoid any dust. “Thousands of feet of drains have been laid,” continued Mr Semple, “and a stream straightened and cleaned out to prevent flooding. A huge septic tank and a complete sewerage svstem have been constructed. The camp has the finest water in the North Island laid oil. - We are also building a hospital immediately. Over a thousand men have been employed on this work, and all key buildings, such as mess rooms, drying rooms, stores, bathrooms and recreation huts, are to b-e built of timber. The Territorials will only need tents for sleeping, and in the summer time the climate is ideal. “There was some complaint at the beginning of the job.” concluded the Minister. “It is natural when you have 'hundreds of men making a start. They have to make their own conditions and do a bit of pioneering for a time, but they have been well catered for in the way of meals. They are using big mess rooms, and the contractors’ .men are sleeping in 20 dormitory huts. If the war continues, the question of erecting wooden hutments for sleeping in during the winter will have to be considered by the Government. Under the present conditions there should- lie no cause for complaint. The work has gone on splendidly, and the job will be finished on the schedule time.”