THE TRENTHAM SQUABBLE

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4005, 11 August 1915, Page 6

THE TRENTHAM SQUABBLE

AUCKLAND ANI> ITS PROTEST

A PERSISTENT MINISTERIAL REPLY. jjv Telegraph—Special Correspondent. A UCKLAND, -Aug 9. ■ The question of whether the men of the Bth Reinforcements shall be allowed to proceed to TrcnUiani for training is still forming tho subject of interesting correspondence between tho Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. 11. •Gunsnn) and the Minister tor Defence (Hon. das. Alien). The Mayor last week protested against the decision of tnp Ministoi •in directing that tho men of the “Eighths” should go into camp at Trentham on the .18tli insl:. and urged that the Minister should, at least wait until the Royal-Commission had given its finding concerning tho -suitability of Trentlnuu as a training ground. This and other protests have not been devoid of results. The Prune Minister and the Minister for Defence have to-dav stated that the Royal Commission has been asked tor an interim, report and that the men of the Bth Reinforcements will not go into camp till a week later than originally intended. The .Mayor’s protest or Saturday last has produced a iiiithoi telegram from the Hon. Jas. A ben: ‘T have received your telegram of even date,” wired the Minister tu - .s morning to the .Mayor. “I assure yon I have a broad mind and a sympathetic heart and have more consideration for the health of our soldiers than to accept advi o. L' 0 !) bungling exports. 1 have invite< you to visit Trenthain and am sorry you have not accepted the juvit-i----tion. I now extend the. invitation to three or more ladies whom you -shall select (o come and visit.! rcutiiam ami sec i'or t nemsei yes. Meanwhile please tod your ladies deputation that the experts are medic a. in.cn of repute and include, healvn oliieers and sanitary officers fU’-'-l the.L i hope to have a report the Royal Commission within tec course of a few days. Unl'ortunateJv the roads at Trentlmm will not bo completed by tho lStb iuid I we shall have to delay calling in i. -o Bth Reinforcements for one weojt m order to allow us to have things compvltcd helore they come. I regrot that you have refused to comply with my request to alley uiieas - cess or to come and see for yourse. J Rave no hesitation in. saying thethe objections of the past are n c well founded.”

In reply the Mayor hat ai'-cn: "In reply to your telegram of the 7th inst. 'regarding Trenthain Use fact that you expect in a few days a report, from the Royal Commission also that for reasons intimated you contemplate delay for one week in calling tho Bth Reinforcements into camp will afford an opportunity fei inipartially determining to a large extent the present conditions and the justification- or otherwise of ns continued use as a camp site. Aueirlaml rightly insists upon tho Tact being established a s to whether 1 rcr-t-ham is a suitable place, in a good condition to justify a further hope, number of men being placed teen.. As that has not been dune a p.rtest was necessary for in view. of the past ami your assurance prior re the recent happenings confidence was shaken. You can depend on the loyal support of Auckland, bv~ that does not involve acceptance conditions inimical to tho vital interests of the men who as soldiers, will go where they arc sent. It .s my duty in those circumstances to represent the weight of Aucklauu oninion which I trust you will n 0..entirely disregard. As for visiting Trenthain no practical result eou.d rtrise therefrom unless the eondmens of the visit were in the terms j ,-v telegram of July 7.

The message of July 7th referred to by the Mayor was one in which 10 said to the Minister: ‘Tf you will say that you will establish a camp in the north lor fresh recruits if Auckland still considers it necessary we will visitTrenthain at once.”

An explanation of why the Defence Department is reverting to tho use of the Trentlmm site is given by the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) in reply to an inquiry by the member for Eden (Mr C. J. ‘Parr). On Saturday Mr Parr wired to the Prime Minister ns follows: — , , ... •‘lt would bo well to make public •‘the strong medical and military “advice upon which Mr Allen is “acting in- using Trenthain camp. “Thq public would l>e. in a bethel “position to judge. “Replying to your wire I have given a paragraph to tho paperswhich you will see to-morrow nunnintr to the effect that six oouters have reported favorably on I roiitlmm so long as no more man 40UU soldiers are placed there,” telegraph Air Massey. V 1 consequence tho military authorities’ have been getting ready for the recruits, butwe are expecting an interim report from the Royal Commission witiun a few days. I am suggesting Flat some representative- Aucklanders should come and see the camps ana satisfy themselves as to the state ot affairs.”