MATTERS FOR INQUIRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9096, 15 July 1915, Page 11

MATTERS FOR INQUIRY

To the Editor “N.Z. Times. Sir,—"Jour graciousness in publishing in their, entirety my notes anent Tientham camp in the issue of your valuable journal of yesterday prompts mo to again return to this vital subject. I have just perused with pleasure your able leader of the 7th inst.. and allow mo to compliment you bn its unbiassed tone. All correspondents should avoid in their comments any political bias and aim at getting reform effected in the camp at Trenitham to alleviate as much as possible the disabilities very many of our brave lads are suffering from there. One reads in the press that there are 2000 more recruits there than it had been anticipated would be necessary to provide for. If that is the case it is a plea and reasonable excuse for those that control the camp’s destiny for many shortcomings. Fortunately there seems available means of reducing th.e congestion in several ways. The Wairarapa Racing Club at a recent meeting resolved to offer to the Defence Department unconditionally their fine course and all the up-to-date appointments that are in evidence there. The Wairarapa Racing Club’s course at Tauhereuikau is the recognised beauty spot of the Dominion. Certainly on no other course is there the natural scenic beauty to bo found there, and, what is more, it is impossible for money to produce a similar landscape. Most of the forest giants (except kauri) are in their virgin state there. The good old totara, 30 feet in circumference. rimu, matai, white pine not much less in size, and the famed “mere” of the ancient Maori that all wild birds shot off it were tabooed except for the chiefs’ feasts, etc., and with an undergrowth of ferns, from the superb punga to the most miniature ones that grow, are all in evidence in this picturesque locality. Could there possibly ba a more ideal spot to remove from Trentham camp many of the troops, especially those that have come lately, to undergo the early stages of their training? One might almos draw a mental picture of troops, now far from being in their usually robust health, when entering the unique avenue of forest giants that one has to pass through before reaching to® courße_and sibdel eqrrpunding.s . sxcEUlElili, WflJ'j \ye fee] tefcfef iHmdy l -V . , ■ Tjiis Beauty, epbt 'was jfeviaugiy use«

a« a camp for military purposes, and was found to bo unrivalled ior it. ibeorc are probably other suitable localities for camps, one of course being Awapuni racecourse, Palmerston, a former rendezvous for early contingents of troops. Other correspondents an your columns suggest some spots of beauty in the ttutt district. The latter may or may not be suitable. Any and all of them will. 1 -suppose, come under the duties of the Royal Commission to investigate that the Prime Minister purposes to set up. It is commendable of him deciding to give anopportunity to those that it affects a chance to ventilate this unfortunate affair. I quite agree with bir Joseph Ward that every facility should be given to get evidence from, the men themselves, and that they are not to be victimised in any way for tendering their opinions. Because one must bear in mind, or should do so, that our. noble army of brave lads are not cunscript soldiers, but volunteers, who are making sacrifices it is impossible to speak too highly of. Probably all are leaving a <*>mfortable and happy homo; most of them, no doubt, devoted parents and sisters, some lo vers, a nil i.'iu ny men are leaving wives and their darling children, who in. their prayers will be saying "Will father ever come bacK again?” ~ „ I have before me on the wall a picture by "Indy Butler" that depicts an officer in full uniform kissing his infant baby girl, and her sister of ten summers is seated upon her _ father s portmanteau with tears streaming from her eyes that are covered with_ her hands. A Newfoundland dog of majestic proportions is trying to look in her face, and the darling wife and mother is waiting with her open arms to receive her infant from its father. This' is illustrative of the Crimean! war of 1854. ■When we realise this incident of 59 years ago at Portsmouth, England, and know it is being repeated at the Trent m camp in 1915 all that is possiolo to be done for our troops to make them comfortable before they leave certainly should be earned out without the least possible delay and regardless of cost' . , , . May I ask (m my ignorance) what is a Royal Commission? Does it mean that a number of potentates will assemble in solemn conclave, take evidence, adjourn from day to day, perhaps weeks, and all the timti more and more of our troops are becoming victims to a crowded camp and developing all sorts of unfortunate diseases? If that is the office of a Royal Commission. I would hai e none ° f \Vhy In the name of common-sense cannot a few practical men say it is quite clear we have 2000 too many m in this camp and they must go somewhere until more adequate provision is mad© for their comfort hero at Iren tham camp? Let the Minister fot War tell the kitchener in charge of the camp. "Come, boys, get a move on have all your swags ready to-day KO by first train in moining. One thousand of you, my lads, to the Tau herenikau racecourse. Anothcithousand to Awapuni. Palmendon NorthIn less time than it takes to about it once on the respective b^UUes ln in%W%nts or buildings “I T .d-stic a method for the pmvers. sake for heaven s, or rather the troops saat, I do hope they will put best efforts forward to do something, and that at once.-I am^t| ; WAKEJJNGrey town, July Bth. ■