IDEAL CAMP

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 6

IDEAL CAMP

CANVAS AT TE RAPA AREA STILE IN ISOLATION I TRAINING OF MEN CONTINUES | If isolation always meant being transferred to a camp *of comfort such as has been established at the Te Rapa racecourse, there would be ! very few troops who would object | to such confinement. The only mis- • fortune is the prevention of leave, but in every other respect the 600 soldiers under canvas at Te Rapa are almost unanimous that the camp is ideal. No definite time has been fixed for lifting the isolation, but when that comes and the men are able to enjoy their leave and have visitors’ days, they will not mind how long they have to stay in Hamilton. Appreciative comment has been made by officers and men of the j camp regarding the assistance given them by the patriotic organisations in Hamilton. The hurried establishment of the isolation camp prevented the usual organisation which the Army authorities make to ensure the comfort of the troops, with the result that the efforts of the patriotic organisation have been almost solely responsible for enabling the troops to settle down so happily. On the very first day thousands of cigarettes were sent to Te Rapa and since then books, magazines and sporting equipment have arrived in considerable quantity. Situation of Camp With about 100 trim white tents neatly erected on the car parking paddock at the course, the area has taken on an entirely new appearance. It is an ideal location for a military camp, being spacious, well-drained, and equipped with many buildings, , all of which are being used by the soldiers. There is adequate shelter. Furthermore, the men enjoy the surroundings of lawns, trees and shrubs, which are not associated with the more barren layout of a regular military camp. The main grandstand is fully occupied. In the office the camp headquarters has been established, while upstairs are situated the officers’ quarters. The members’ buffet has been converted into a very comfortable officers’ mess-room. In camp are the greater part of the 29th Infantry Battalion, the 36th Railway Survey Company, New Zealand Engineers, and part of the Composite Company, New Zealand Army Service Corps. The 30th Infantry Battalion has been encamped at Hopu Hopu. They are all Third Echelon units. Camp Improvements The Public Works Department is engaged in the erection of ablution benches for the troops. They are on the camp site and will be welcome to the 600 men who had previously to use one tap for their wash. Several fully trained cooks were brought into camp when the men arrived on Friday and they are making good use of the cookhouse facilities. Hot showers will also be installed. The Y.M.C.A. has become established. An ideal parade ground is the quadrangle formed by the horse boxes behind the main stand. It is adequate for an entire parade and on windy days the complete shelter enables the orders to be clearly distinguished by the parade. Now that the troops have settled in they are continuing their normal training. Today they went on a longer route march than the usual daily short march, when they marched to the Rotokauri district. The route, however, was not as long as that undertaken on the first day, when the men marched from the Hopu Hopu camp to Te Rapa. As the troops would be away on the march today at lunch time, the mid-day meal was placed in insulated containers and transported on a motor-truck to Rotokauri, where a roadside meal was enjoyed by the men.

The camp commandant is Captain J. C. Holmes.