CAMP ATHLETICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23621, 3 April 1940, Page 11

CAMP ATHLETICS

FIELDS NOT BEADY GEAR AWAITING USE A MATTER OF URGENCY The football and hockey season is about to open, but the grounds at the Papakura military camp have not yet been prepared. Except for the mowing of long grass and a trifling amount of work in smoothing out "humps," the playing areas are simply paddock turf and unfit for use. To attempt to use them would result in a stream of ankle 1 and knee injuries and probably some I broken legs. It was indicated by the Public Works Department on March G that the preparation of the grounds would be put in hand "at an early date" and it is understood that a contractor has been ready to start immediately in levelling and tilling. Mention of an estimate of some £'l7oo for the work lias caused surprise among men connected with winter field games who are specially interested in catering tor the camp athletics. This figure to them suggests work of a nature that might hold up play for months. Seeing that time presses they are of opinion that a much less elaborate scheme must suffice for- this winter. They contend that if "bumps" were removed by tractor levellers and hollows filled in by transporting tho extra snoil necessary, the grounds, after rolling by heavy machines, could ho made playable in a week. Certainly they would become very muddy during the winter, but they would be safe and meet this season's needs. All football and hockey gear required by the soldiers ,has been sent to the camp by the sports sub-com-mittee of the patriotic organisation and it is obvious that tho men should be "on the ball" without delay. There is a psychological as well as a physical purpose to be served, and the matter of grounds is one of the utmost urgency. A splendid boxing ring, secured second-hand, has been purchased by the sports sub-committee and sent to the camp, and an adequate supply of boxing gloves will shortly follow. Thus indoor sport is properly provided for and the picture theatre will be a boon in the matter of night entertainment. Unless there are the facilities for football and hockey, however, the camp will lack its most, important feature. Some six grounds are needed to cater for Rugby, League and Soccer and hockey. It is proposed to play interunit matches, which probably will keep grounds in use daily, after military training hours, and to enter senior military teams in the city competitions of all four games.

MEN ENTERING CAMP

FOUR DETAILS MOBILISED DEPARTURE ON FRIDAY FURTHER PROSPECTIVE N.C.O.'S A party of over 30 recruits for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force is to leave Auckland on Friday morning for Ngaruawahia, where the men will train as prospective no-conir missioned officers lor artillery units. Two other details are also being mobilised the same day, one going to Narrow Neck for duty pending the calling up of the third echelon, and the other to Ngaruawahia for the same purpose. Those to train as prospective non-commis-sioned officers are:—E. R. Archer, R. L. Burk, L. R. Ciochctto. E. \\. J. Clark, W. J. Dunlevey. J. H. Eccleton. S. B. Elsmore, G. A. Fenton, E. W. Field, L. Franks, X. G. Gilbert, H. H. Gordon, E. W. Hughes, R. E. Jackson, S. V. W. Nicol, S P. Norrie, C. W. Power, F. T. Power. C. T. V. Puttick, I. McG. Raethet. E. \V Roberts, L. H. Robinson, C. G. Rowe, H D. Slvfield. A. D. Thomson, H. A. Timinins. ]?.' H. Worger. FT. K. Christie. C. E. Coupe. S. C. Dyer. A. M. S. Mason, M. G. Oliver, A. E. Yandell, and I. X. the last-iiained eoing into camp on Monday. The men going into Narrow Neck pending the calling up of the third echelon are:— F. F. Antonelli. F. S. Allan. T. M. Archer, J. D. Arral, G. A. Baker, J. A. Barber, G. E. Barrett, K. B. Chapman, N. E. Carson, P. F. Cooper, G. M. Drinnan, R. R. R Fraider, E. J. Harrison, P. R. Hodge. R. H. Horsfall, M. D. Hughes, J. \V. C. Johnstone, C. C. Jones. \V. C. Josephs. J. R. MacGregor. J. Pearson. I. H. Peek, J. "VV. Pettv, H F. G. Ready, J. W. Leslie. E. Pro-tor. M. W. Thomas, R. L. Williams. H. L. Winter. I. McD. Younger. Those going into Ngaruawahia for tho same purpose are: —E. E. Best, R. A. Campbell B. W. Greig. C. A. Greig. \V I L. Mavitty, C. L. O'Malley. C. R. Roe, W. L. Roe. R. J. Bush, T. Spira. In addition to these men a smaller detail is to leave on Monday for Trenthnm. The following four are bandsmen for the second echelon:—lT. H. Router. J. R. H. Jones. T. R. Chri«toff and R. Howarth. Another 'man. .T. \V. McNamara, is also to leave on Monday for Trentham as a tailor for the second echelon.

MOVE TO PAPAKURA MEN FROM NARROW NECK PARADE IN CITY TO-DAY Third echelon officers and noncommissioned officers who have boon in training at Narrow Neck arc to be moved to-day to Papakura Camp, whore tliov will occupy buildings in the now third battalion area. Before entraining at the Auckland railway station they\will march through the city. headed i>y the Papakura Camp band. The parade will number about 30 officers, 110 non-commissioned officers and sonic subsidiary details, and will be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel C. Shuttloworth, who was appointed to the temporary command of the 24th (Auckland) 'Battalion in February. They have all completed the course of training for which they were mobilised on February 1. Assembling outride the terry building at 10..5 a m.. tlie parade will march up Albert Street and into Quoon Street from Victoria Street West..lt will then march to Customs Street and along it and Beach "oad to the station AREA QUOTA FILLED TARANA K I VOLUNTEERS [by tki.kchaph —pkkss association] NKW PLYMOT'TH. Tuesday Taia'naki is the first district in the central military command to till its quota for the third echelon, according to the headquarters statf of the regimental district, who believo it to bo the first in New Zealand. The quota is 20:5. and 181 men wero available vesterday for posting to camp. Medical boards at Hawora and Now Plymouth to-day passed 28 men fit for service. Some of these may bo in reserved occupations, but that is not considered likely to bring tho total number below tho quota.