ORGANISATION OF CAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16849, 14 May 1918, Page 6

ORGANISATION OF CAMPS

EVIDENCE OF COMMANDANTS.

TRANSFERENCE OF MEN COSTLY.

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON, Monday. Evidence was given before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day by Colonel H. R. Potter, camp commandant at Trentham, and Colonel N. P. Adams, camp commandant at Featherston. The former said he had been anxious to go to Ihe front, but he had been refused permission, while the latter stated that he had been refused permission because he was medically unfit. Colonel Potter, questioned as to Via duties, said that he was responsible for the training of the men and the administration of the camp. He had to see that the syllabus of training was carried out, but was not responsible for the efficiency of the men. In reply to the chairman's questions, Colonel Potter said that a large amount of work was involved in shifting the men from one camp to another. The reason for the transfer rested on the grounds of health, but the home service men were not transferred, and he himself had been at Trent-ham for three and a-half year* and had not been sick until recently. As to the non commissioned officer instructors who had come from England recently, he said he had no information as to them when they arrived. That being so they were handed over to the chief infantry instructor to use. Meanwhile he .sent in a list of the men to headquarters. The Chairman : Do you think your camps are "overstaffed? We think '.nexe are a number of men doing unnecessary work. Colonel Potter said he did not think his camp was overstaffed. It was the depot of concentration and also of embarkation. The Chairman : Under the battalion system would you be relieved of an enormous amount of work? Colonel Potter: Ye 3. In answer to the chairman, Colonel Adams said he thought the battalion system would be more economical. The Chairman : It is quite evident that it is cheaper to run. Colonel Adams said the establishment allowed him at Featherston, including Tauherenikau and Papawai, was 1256. The number employed was 1144, including 53 on canteens and not paid by the Ftate. There were 5800 men in training. Colonel Potter said the number of men in training at Trentham was about 3000. and the number allowed on the establishment was about 900. The present number employed was about 760. Colonel Adams gave figures showing that in most cases the ration scale was considerably overdrawn. The men, he said, ate very much more on first coming into camp than afterwards.