AT TRENTHAM.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 789, 13 August 1915, Page 6

AT TRENTHAM.

Visitors and Permits.

MR. Allen says the Trentham Camp is going to be a "model camp.'' We hope it will. Not a bit too soon 1 , in view of all the time and money which have been spent upon it. It's all very well for some people to sneer at Dr. Thacker, and belittle the Christchurch member's method of getting information. But "the fact remains •that the genial doctor, albeit ; a little unconventional in his way of going about the job of drawing public attentiorv to the state of affairs at the camp, really did a good and useful _ service to the community, and (the public is grateful to the member for Christchurch.

Now that Trentham is once again sweet and clean, and! that it is_ to be a "model camp.'' it would be just as well were the. Defence authorities to conitinue the work of Reform by making their regulations as to permits for visitors better known and comprehensible. If the authorities deem it necessary to "close tyle" the Trentham _ lodge on any particular day, and forbid entrance to" visitors—^-often"parents and relatives of soldiers, persons who have come from far distant parts of the country —why can't they give notice in the papers r The other day a number of people went up to Trentham and were refused admittance. Some few, whose persistence wore down the official Itaboo, and some others who sent in notes to certain officers or who had some mysterious private pull, got through all right. _ But others had their journey for nothing.

Surely the authorities should understand that it is a quite and proper thing for parents and relatives of the men to seek to see them. If, as we have said, it is really necessary to forbid admission on certain days, let the fact be advertised or otherwise notified for the benefit of the people interested. Common-sense is wanted at Trentham just as much as well ventilated huts and good drainage.