THOUSANDS OF LETTERS

Southland Times, Issue 23945, 11 October 1939, Page 8

THOUSANDS OF LETTERS

Soldier Writers In

Camp

EXTENSIVE FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED

(Special to The Times)

WELLINGTON, October 10.

Thousands of letters have been written in the Trentham military camp since the men went into camp on Tuesday and succeeding days. The post office there shares with the canteen and the institutes of the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army the distinction of being the most-used amenity of the camp. Here a soldier can do all the things he could in the general post office of any city. He can deposit or withdraw money from his savings bank account, irrespective of where, in the case of withdrawals, his money has previously been deposited. He can transfer his account to the camp or open an account. If a man wants to be thrifty, then this gives him every chance. Telegrams are received and despatched, and toll calls put through to .any part of New Zealand. There is a modern teleprinter for inward telegraph reception. When telegrams come for the men a messenger delivers them to their company headquarters so that, in effect, they get them more quickly than if they were in their own homes,

possibly at considerable distances from their local post office. The volume of business is much greater than it would be for a town having the same population as the camp; separation from wives, sweethearts, friends and families has made regular correspondents out of many whose previous letter-writing efforts were confined to occasional seasonal greetings.

CONTROL OF MEN AND MATERIALS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION URGED An immediate statement on the Government’s policy in relation to the conscription of man power in New Zealand and the retention of men in key positions in industry, particularly those engaged in farming, is to be sought by the Canterbury Progress League. Complete organization of the country’s resources and the announcement of a definite course of action to the people as to how they can best serve New Zealand in the present crisis was the unanimous request of all members of the executive. The threat of a serious position developing in farming was revealed to the meeting by deputation consisting of two North Canterbury farmers —Messrs E. H. P. Burbury and D. S. Mackenzie. “Enlistment of men from our farms for the military forces has brought the position to a climax so far as we are concerned,” said Mr Mackenzie. “The question we are concerned about is compulsory service. The matter has no political aspect whatsoever. The idea that is at the back of our minds is that the people desire compulsory service. We hope, in the conduct of this war, that the whole of our resources, whether of men or materials, will be organized. “The Government’s announcement that it is going to take over all of our produce does not worry us,” declared Mr Mackenzie. “The only thing we want to know is: How are we going to increase production? My belief is that we all have to be organized, and the powers that be should see that key men are not taken away if it is decided that they can be of greater value in the country than out of it.” Eventually a sub-committee was appointed to deal with the matter and prepare a memorandum embracing the meeting’s proposals for submission to the Government.