CAMP TRANSFER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24696, 27 August 1941, Page 6

CAMP TRANSFER

BLOW TO DUNEDIN EFFECTS ON BUSINESS The decision of the Government, u announced by the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, to concentrate all Expeditionary Force training at Trentham mobilisation camp is likely to have repercussions in the South Island. The transfer of men for overseas from Burnham to the North Island (states the Christchurch Star-Sun) will leave the camp free for the exclusive use of territorials, all South Island training to be concentrated there. This fact will allay the fears of Christchurch army contractors . who provision tfhe camp, for it is understood that the number of territorials to be concentrated at Burnham will be approximately equal to the number -of Expeditionary Force men usually in camp there. In the south, however, it win be a different story. Dunedin has two ter-' ritorial camps—one at Wingatui and the other at Forbury—and the decision to remove the centre of training to Burnham will have an adverse effect on commercial circles in. the Otago capital. . Soldiers are notoriously good spenders, and a dwindling in many avenues of trade in the south is a certainty. What the South Island loses in that respect Wellington will gain. One Christchurch business man said that it was estimated that the concentration of troops in the Wellington area during the last war was worth about £1,000,000 to the capital. It is understood that men now in training with the Expeditionary Force at Burnham will complete their instruction there, but at the exnitfy of that period no men for overseas service will be posted to the camp. Similarly. territorials at present in camps at Wingatui, Forbury, Riccarton, and Addington will complete their 13* weeks’ training there.