WAIOURU CAMP STILL CENTRE of MUCH ACTIVITY

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 May 1947, Page 7

WAIOURU CAMP STILL CENTRE of MUCH ACTIVITY

(O-1-) Taihape, May 8. Get out of bed! Get out of bed! It's past reveille! ” Many a \\ anganui man, some of them old and grey-haired by now, have heard that bugle call in the clear, sharp frost of Waiouru Camp. Many heard it during the war years just passed, many heard it long before the war, when Waiouru was in the makings as a camp. Hundreds of Public Works employees heard it, too, though perhaps were not influenced by it, in- that hard winter of 1940, when the modern camp that stands on the Waiouru Plains to-day, was in course of re-construction.

Cold, a true cold, of the type met with perhaps, in that famous sounterpart in England, Sling Camp, is met with in Waiouru. A damp towel hung to a lent peg the night before, freezes stiff, like the shirt front of a modern evening dress. Workers who reconstructed the camp in 1940 and later, reported that false teeth, set in water over-night, had to be thawed out to enable their owners to cat breakfast. Compared with the war days, when Waiouru was throbbing with a mighty population of soldiers, the camp is quieter now, but is still very much a. centre of activity. STILL IN GOOD ORDER Taxpayers in New Zealand need have no worry that the camp,, situated 21 miles north of Taihape, which played such a vital part in the efficient training of troops in World War 11, has slipped into a state of stagnation and deterioration since the close of hostilities in August, 1945. Recently the “Chronicle’s" staff resident reporter at Taihape visited the camp and found everything, including buildings, roads, and equipment in first class order, reflecting the highest credit on Major A Holmes, M.8.E., Camp Commandant, and his staff.

Contrary to general belief, the camp at Waiouru was not established during World War 11. It was vastly reconstructed during tnat war. it its true, but for years before World War 11, the tussock lands of the Waiouru Estate (then owned by the Lysnar Brothers) were used to train Territorial Regiments. Many a unit, from Wanganui and surrounding districts had served there in the old Territorial days, and was trained in manoeuvres in that lonely, high altitude locality.

In the winter of 1940 a big reconstruction scheme was put in hand. Songthing of what it involved can be imagined from the words of one contractor involved: “They took us on on what was to be a three months contract,” he said. “It lasted three years.” In that time a modern camp, probably the best in the Dominion so far as camp facilities are concerned. : emerged from what passed for a ! camp in the earlier days. i More than a 1000 men were em- ' ployed then by the Public Works De- ' partment. The camp site is at the i mouth of a long narrow valley, where i it debouches from between low hills |on to a vast expanse of rolling tus-sock-covered country. Dominating I the camp, about 15 miles to the north, i is imposing Mt. Ruapehu, rising 9,000 1 feet into the clouds. Behind and to the right of Ruapehu is the gleaming white dome of Ngaruhoe. In fine weather the clear-cut cone of Egmont shows up away out to the west. The mountain air—Waiouru is 2700 feet above sea level—is clear and bracing. SCENIC BEAUTY, AT A DISTANCE I The prospect to the south, west, | r.nd north is of considerable scenic i beauty, and the thousands of acres of country alloted to the camp as a training centre is unequalled elsewhere in New Zealand for that purpose. DIVIDED INTO BLOCKS. The camp is divided into blocks, which arc self-contained units and each can accommodate a battalion. Each of the standard areas is surrounded by sealed roads which are in first class order. The whole reading cf the camp has been laid out according to town planning principle’s, and this was proved when the camp throbbed to a population of 8000 men during training periods in the recent war. ,

The headquarters area of the camp is adjacent, to the camp entrance and on the eastern edge of the camp is a large recreational and social area.

Here are the canteens, and church huts, such as the Church of England, Catholic, Salvation Army, Y.M.C.A. and other denominational huts. The modern picture theatre, which accommodates 1000 men and which proved such a boon in the war years, still screens programmes three times weekly. In addition there is the Army Education Service unit, which fulfills a most useful function considering the minimum staff now in occupation of the camp.

The camp hospital, which’ has a capacity of 100 beds, is separated from the remainder of the camp by a fine belt of sheltering pine trees. The | hospital contains medical officers quarters, surgery and operating theatre. There is also a fine nurses home and laundry, and other facilities. Everything is ready for immediate use should an unforseen emergency arise. The Public Works Department has a camp on the western side of the military camp, and it assists in the servicing and general maintenance of the camp, such as road building. Paying a tribute to the Public Works officials and staff, Major Holmes said he and his staff had every co-operation from them. A visit to the camp reveals that everything is being done to keen it in a high state of efficiency, while the equipment stored there is being looked after as fully as possible. An enthusiastic tree planter. Major Holmes has an experimental plot testing out different kinds of trees and shrubs with a view to still further beautifying the camp and its surroundings. Last year several thousand trees were planted under his direction.