WAIOURU CAMP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 9, 11 January 1941, Page 4

WAIOURU CAMP

JOB HAS BEEN HELD UP MEN'S LONG HOLIDAYS WAIOURU, Jan. 10. Although Waiouru Military Camp is now fully occupied with troops for the first time, there are still several hundred carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, and labourers employed by the Public Works Department and private contractors engaged on completing a job that was originally timed to be finished more than three months ago. Minor alterations in the plans and other unforeseen contingencies have affected the time taken, but one important cause of delay has been the action of the men in taking inordinately long holidays.

Although it was known that completion of the camp as early as possible was an urgent defence requirement, the workmen took no fewer than 17 days off at Christmas time, and did not resume work until Monday of this week. Similarly, on the occasion of the King’s Birthday holiday in November and for the Labour Day week-end, they knocked off on the Friday afternoon and did not resume until the following Wednesday morning. Not all of the men employed on the job have taken up this attitude, but those willing to work have been unable to do so because of the absence of the majority. The completed hutted battalion area and the key buildings of the battalion areas needed for the men who have begun their three months of continuous training this week were ready in time, but several buildings required by the camp headquarters staff, the hospital administrative block, the dental hospital, the canteen building, the Catholic Church and Salvation Army huts, the picture theatre, and the mechanical transport workshop, and certain smaller buildings are still in various stages of construction. Some are nearing completion and others have progressed only as far as the foundations.

Hugo Area Tar Sealed The big tar-sealing programme is now nearly completed. Hundreds of thousands of square yards of roads and parade grounds have been sealed, and the dust nuisance, which was very trying at the camp up to a few weeks ago, is now gradually abating. A start has still to be made on a beautifying programme planned for the recreational area and the surroundings of the hospital and nurses’ home. The double-width street separating the recreational area from the remainder of the camp will have kerbenclosed lawns down the centre and the grounds about the hospital are to be laid down in lawns and flower beds. Provision has also been made for lawns alongside the main entrance to the camp headquarters administration block. To the south of the camp area a big rifle range is to be constructed. The site is an excellent one. Ranges up to 1000 yards will be provided and the light will be at the back of the riflemen. Several ranges of 25 yards will be constructed during the next few days by the pioneer sections from the various battalion headquarters companies.

Camp Fire Brigade With the arrival at the camp on Wednesday of a trailer pump, the camp fire brigade is now well equipped to deal with any outbreak. There is, in addition, a brand-new fire engine motor pump with four deliveries. The camp flremaster is WarrantOfficer (Ist. Class) O. Poppleton, formerly of the Central Fire Station, Wellington. Apart from another noncommissioned officer, who is also an ex-civilian fireman, the firemen are Maoris. They are probably better pleased with their jobs than any man in the camp from the camp commandant downwards.