CAMP INSPECTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 11

CAMP INSPECTED

training at hopuhopu VISIT BY THREE M.P.'S THE MOVE TO PAPAKURA [FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON. Thursday A visit to the Hopuhopu military camp, where 2SOO members of the special force have been in training for a month, was paid to-dav bv the Hon. W. E. Ba ruard, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Messrs. J. A. Lee and A. S. Richards, M.P.'s. Accompanied by Colonel N. McD. Weir, officer commanding the northern military district, and Major H. D. MoHugh, camp commandant, they made a thorough inspection of the camp, and watched every phase of the military training in progress. llain fell during the period of inspection, but the work was carried on, the men being clothed in overcoats and waterproof capes. Accommodation Problem Speaking for the visiting M.P.'s, Mr. T/ee said that, considering that 2800 men were accommodated in quarters intended for 1000, the conditions were satisfactory. The men were required to put up with a certain amount of roughness until their permanent camp at Papakura was ready for them. When criticising the conditions at Hopuhopu, said Mr. Loo. the public did not seem to understand that the camp was built for little more than half the men who were at present receiving training there, and that there were many things that could not be clone at Hopuhopu which would bo done at Papakura. Those under training were well aware of this fact. Tribute to the Troops It was clear from what he had seen that a soldier's job was one for young men, Mr. L-ee continued. The visitor? were greatly impressed by the stamp of men who had come forward in response to the first call. They compared very favourably with the members of the Xew Zealand Expeditionary Force of 1914-IS. Colonel Weir said he was satisfied with the progress the men were making with their training and with the material which composed the special force. The main hotly, of the men at Hopuhopu would be transferred to Papakura about November 7. Colonel Weir discounted the suggestion that the men would march from Hopuhopu to Papakura, and said there were sufficient lorries available for their transport. Messrs. Barnard. Lee and Richards will visit the Papakura camp tomorrow.

YOUNG MEN'S PLIGHT REJECTED VOLUNTEERS GOOD POSITIONS ABANDONED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS, Thursday Men who abandoned their jobs in order to enlist and who have either been rejected as unfit for service or who have not yet been called upon to izo to camp now find themselves in an unfortunate position, accord inn to Mr. K. L. Cnllen. M.TV. who said today that quite a number of such men had approached him in order to obtain work. "T have had some young men come to me looking for work who have come lonsr distances into town and are now without money or job« and are almost destitute." said Mr. Cnllen. While they were to be congratulated upon their zeal and patriotism, he warned other young men that on no account must thev throw up their jobs until they had been given final instructions by the niilitarv authorities to enter camp. Mr. Cullen mentioned that some vounsr men who wore now stranded had failed to pass the medical examination and consequently there was no prospect at all of their going into eaten for the present forces. "The great pity of it is that several of them had really good jobs," he added.