CAMPS VISITED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23781, 8 October 1940, Page 9

CAMPS VISITED

MINISTER OP DEFENCE SATISFACTION EXPRESSED COLONEL WEIR'S PROMOTION Much satisfaction with what he had seen in the Ngaruawahia and Papakura camps was expressed yesterday by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. He said he had been much impressed by the Maori reinforcements, and in the opinion of the officers the men who had just entered both camps were of an exceptionally high standard. An excellent x)icce of organisation, assisted by greatly-increased accommodation for stores, had enabled the equivalent of nine days to be saved in the issue of all kinds of equipment to the Fourth Reinforcements. This saving of time had largely counteracted the delay that had been occasioned through the outbreak of measles.

The Minister said he much appreciated the assistance that had been given the Papakura camp by the Auckland City Council in the gifts of shrubs and other plants which already seemed to be well established. It was a pleasure, he said, to see the that the people of Auckland were taking in the camp and their ready response to appeals made had enabled tho Patriotic Council to supply various amenities for the welfare of the men. There had been many improvements in the camp since he last saw it and the extensions to the vegetable garden would prove to be a great asset. Speaking of the appointment of Colonel N. W. McD. Weir, to command, as brigadier, the 2nd (Central) Division, with headquarters at Wellington, the Minister said the Government had been very much impressed with Colonel Weir's work during the time he had been officer commanding the northern military district, both prior to the outbreak of the war and afterward. That high 'opinion would be endorsed by all those who had come in contact with him. No doubt the people of Auckland would regret the transfer, but the position Colonel Weir was to hold was one of greater responsibility.

CLOTHING THE FORCES FORMIDABLE TASK RESPONSE OF FACTORIES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHTIISTCHURCH, Monday "The demand for clothing for our military forces has thrown a very heavy responsibility on the clothing trade and the woollen mills of the country," said the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. "The responsibility was intensified by the fact that the demand came with Temarkable rapidity and grew phenomenally. As the need for training increased numbers of men became necessary, the industry rallied to the task splendidly, and I am deeply grateful to all concerned, manufacturers and workers, for the excellent manner in which they have met the intensified demand. "This diversion of our factories' output lias had some effect on the value of consumer goods produced for civilian requirements, but up _to the present it has had no substantial effect upon the retail trade," said the Minister. "No effort is being spared, nor will it he spared, to maintain at as high a level as possible stocks of goods for civilian consumption.

"Since the outbreak of the war up to September 30 we have produced, among other things, 116,000 pairs of blankets, 65.000 jerseys, 500,000 yards of tunic cloth. 263,000 yards of greatcoating. 750,000 yards of flannel shirting, 535,000 pairs of socks, 52,750 blouses for battledress and 53.100 pairs of trousers for battledress. The footwear industry, too, has been mobilised and the work of producing the necessary boots for the Army has made exacting demands. Our footwear factories have produced 240,000 pairs of boots."

TRAINING OF PILOTS COASTGUARD BODY'S PLANS A ground trainer for the elementary instruction of pilots has been given by the New Zealand Aircraft Club to the New Zealand Coastguard, Incorporated, which is setting* up an aviation branch. The coastguard intends to train members in aeroplane engineering and construction so that they will be able to handle nircraft in the water should this be required. It is intended to establish an aerial section of the coastguard at a later date.

An official of both the Aircraft Club and the New Zealand Coastguard, Mr. E. F. G. Sharp, arranged the transfer of the ground trainer, which the club can no longer use. owing to the curtailment of civil aviation by the war. Mr. Sharp stated yesterday that young men, particularly those intending to join the Royal Air Force,'could obtain free instructional papers which had been prepared by the club before the war. These covered a wide range of subjects, including aerodynamics, structures, rigcinc. and engineering. They were available at his office in Colwill Chambers, Swanson Street.

HOME GUARD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS AT ROTORUA [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Monday A separate district for the formation of the Home Guard, with its headquarters at Rotorua, was announced this morningby the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, At a meeting addressed by Mr. R. Sinel, Dominion organiser of the Home Guard movement. This new area is in response to representations made by a meeting of local bodies that the Paeroa military district was too unwieldy. The area, to be known as military district 2a. will be bounded by Tauranga, Opotiki and Taupo.

DISCHARGED VOLUNTEERS THE ISSUE OF BADGES Re-employment and other matters of interest to men discharged from the military forces were discussed at a meeting of the Discharged Volunteers' Association. It was decided to open other branches through the country, and to expand the already large Auckland branch. The official D.V.A. badge was issued to members at the meeting. In the form of an oval silver disc, it carries tho letters D.V.A. and N.Z. with a fornleaf imprinted. Only volunteers could obtain tho badge, it was stated, and to do so they must produce papers of identification or discharge. Appreciation was expressed of the work done in assisting discharged men to rehabilitate themselves in civilian life after spending time in camp.