CAMP INVADED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 9

CAMP INVADED

THOUSANDS OF VISITORS DISCIPLINE RELAXED TENDER LEAVE-TAKINGS AFTERNOON AT PAPAKURA 1 Thousands of people travelled by special train and motor-cars from Auckland yesterday afternoon to . visit the troops at Papakura military camp. There were many tender leave-takings, and the necessarily strict discipline of the camp was relaxed. Nearly 1300 people took the train, but for some time before the camp was opened at three o'clock a long procession of motor-cars stretched at intervals from the Harp of Erin corner toward Papakura, and by 3.30 at least 500 cars were parked on the parade ground near the main entrance. The customarily rigid atmosphere that is inseparable from military life in war time was temporarily softened with the presence of women friends, whose brightly-coloured frocks, their obvious interest in everything to be seen, and their laughing faces as they clicked camera shutters in front of small parties of soldiers and their friends, did much to . relieve the natural tension. Fathers and mothers, wives and somo young children, but far more young women, walked between the rows of hutments or gathered in small knots, smiling and talking about times gone by, or waited patiently near the canteen as men friends found their way through the press of people before the refreshments counter. Here and there one saw parcels of varving proportions being handed to soldiers, the recipients acknowledging them with friendly grins or quietlyspoken words of thanks. That done, tlie welcome parcels were secreted in safe places, and the parties went to some comparatively quiet place to talk before it was time lor visitors to say farewell. "Good-bye; good luck, look after yourself," was the spirit in which for the most part the parting sentiment found expression.

SCENE AT HOPUHOPTT SPECIAL TRAINS AND BUSES [from OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday Making their final farewells to the men of the special force in training at HopuhopUj hundreds of friends and relatives visited the camp this afternoon. Special trains and buses brought crowds from Hamilton and Auckland, while there was a steady stream of cars bound for the camp on the main south road between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia. It was just on 3.30 p.m. when cries of "Here they come" drew attention to the arrival of the train bringing tho men back to camp after the parade in Auckland. The camp gates were then thrown open and the waiting crowds surged through the grounds to greet the men. Nearly all the visitors carried parcels and from a casual glance it was apparent that the contents were* cakes, cigarettes and other comforts enjoyed by the troops, but not provided by the military authorities. Many visitors also brouglft food hampers, and later in the afternoon wero to be seen enjoying a light meal with the men. The time passed quickly, and it was not long before tho hour. arrived for the visitors to leave the camp. Farewells wero made, many tearful, and the men waved and shouted as their friends and relatives made their departure.

RECORD TRAFFIC OFFICIALS' BUSY DAY PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES MOTORISTS COMPLIMENTED The volume of pedestrian and vehicti-, lar traffic in Queen Street yesterday was the heaviest ever handled by the traffic officials of the Auckland City Council. The great crowd which followed the troops on the route of march, growing in numbers as the end of the line passed by, became a surge of people the full width of the street as the men went through the city. At 11.20 a.m., while the parade in the Domain was in progress. Park Road, from Khybcr Pass Road to Grafton Bridge, and the route of march to Upper Queen Street ivcre closed to vehicular traffic. During the time of the march Queen Street itself. Customs Street East and Beach lioad to the railway station were also closed to wheeled traffic, trainears and vehicles being diverted to other routes. Provision for ear parking was made near the War Memorial Museum, about 600 vehicles remaining there during the parade, and streets in the vicinity of the Domain were lined with cars. When the passage of the troops cleared streets for vehicular traffic Queen Street, in particular, handled thousands of cars, the accumulation of the period during which it was closed and the majority of those which had been, parked near the Domain. Th<j manner in "which motorists conducted themselves during the biggest traffic rush in the city's history earned the praise of traffic officials, avlio stated that the volume was handled with very little trouble, the behaviour of drivers being exceptional. Under the supervision of Superintendent <T. Cummings, Inspector D. Scott and Sub-Inspectors W. Pender and J. Cahvell, 60 uniformed police officers were on duty at the parade, at points on the march and at the railway station.