Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2014 0:10:03 GMT 12
In the past I have heard about parts of Cairo and Alexandria being Out Of Bounds to NZ and Allied soldiers, due to the illicit activities that happened in the red light districts, and/or because only officers were allowed in those parts. But it seems from this article that Auckland also had areas out of bounds to the troops. Does anyone know why?
New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24917, 12 June 1944
NIGHT SCENES
CITY SLUM ABEAS WASTED IDLE LABOUR
Although it is designed primarily as a disciplinary and protective measure for members of the armed forces stationed in and around Auckland, the combined services patrol which operates in the city often discovers offences against civilian regulations.
Its visits to many areas also reveal apparent signs of laxity on the part of the relevant authorities in keeping a check on undesirable features of city life. The patrol, which is composed of members of the New Zealand provost American naval shore patrols, American military police and New Zealand civilian police, visits many districts in and surrounding the city, particularly in the poorer quarters.
The main objects are to check on defaulters from the services and to keep men out of areas which have had to be declared out of bounds.
Slum Conditions
For this purpose the patrol has to enter many private dwellings and apartment houses where servicemen are found with women. The companions of the men are European and Maori women of all ages, many of whom live in appalling conditions. The interiors of many of the places are filthy, badly ventilated arid riddled with borer and white ants.
Makeshift electrical wiring and plumbing, obviously the work of an amateur, are to be found in many of them, and would be condemned as highly dangerous if an inspection were made. Municipal by-laws make it an offence for structural alterations to dwellings to be effected without permission, but many residents in the poorer parts of Auckland have completely ignored these restrictions. The partitioning to be seen in some of the places would never have been approved by a competent builder, but much of it has I obviously been standing for a considerable time. In many instances it has resulted in gross over-crowding and conditions which could easily be a menace to health.
Unhealthy Areas
In some of the districts it is not necessary for the patrol to enter the buildings before unhealthy conditions are encountered. In backyards, which are reached from dirty, narrow alleys where the houses are packed in as tightly as possible, heaps of refuse have been allowed to accumulate and rot. Over all is an objectionable odour, which is sometimes worse inside the houses than it is outside.
One of the worst features that is often revealed while the patrol is making its rounds at nights is the extent to which large numbers of people have been allowed to escape the regulations operated by the manpower division of the National Service Department. Men and women who are fit for work freely admit that they have not worked for months.
Regulations Evaded
The number of unregistered young women found in apartment houses makes it obvious that manpower registrations have never been thoroughly checked against the census or against Social Security registrations. The age groups for which many of them would qualify were called on to register for employment many months ago, but these girls have apparently been allowed to go their own way and to avoid doing a day's work.
In addition, the number of girls who, on their own admission, have been lost sight of by the manpower authorities also reflects adversely on the administration. Numbers of them have been released by the manpower authorities in other towns and have lived precariously in Auckland for varying periods without reporting to the National Service authorities. Their own statements indicate that it is comparatively easy to defeat a public department, which is designed to make the best possible use of the country's labour resources.
Sly-grogging, the supply of liquor to natives and common thefts are also among the offences which come before the notice the patrol.
New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24917, 12 June 1944
NIGHT SCENES
CITY SLUM ABEAS WASTED IDLE LABOUR
Although it is designed primarily as a disciplinary and protective measure for members of the armed forces stationed in and around Auckland, the combined services patrol which operates in the city often discovers offences against civilian regulations.
Its visits to many areas also reveal apparent signs of laxity on the part of the relevant authorities in keeping a check on undesirable features of city life. The patrol, which is composed of members of the New Zealand provost American naval shore patrols, American military police and New Zealand civilian police, visits many districts in and surrounding the city, particularly in the poorer quarters.
The main objects are to check on defaulters from the services and to keep men out of areas which have had to be declared out of bounds.
Slum Conditions
For this purpose the patrol has to enter many private dwellings and apartment houses where servicemen are found with women. The companions of the men are European and Maori women of all ages, many of whom live in appalling conditions. The interiors of many of the places are filthy, badly ventilated arid riddled with borer and white ants.
Makeshift electrical wiring and plumbing, obviously the work of an amateur, are to be found in many of them, and would be condemned as highly dangerous if an inspection were made. Municipal by-laws make it an offence for structural alterations to dwellings to be effected without permission, but many residents in the poorer parts of Auckland have completely ignored these restrictions. The partitioning to be seen in some of the places would never have been approved by a competent builder, but much of it has I obviously been standing for a considerable time. In many instances it has resulted in gross over-crowding and conditions which could easily be a menace to health.
Unhealthy Areas
In some of the districts it is not necessary for the patrol to enter the buildings before unhealthy conditions are encountered. In backyards, which are reached from dirty, narrow alleys where the houses are packed in as tightly as possible, heaps of refuse have been allowed to accumulate and rot. Over all is an objectionable odour, which is sometimes worse inside the houses than it is outside.
One of the worst features that is often revealed while the patrol is making its rounds at nights is the extent to which large numbers of people have been allowed to escape the regulations operated by the manpower division of the National Service Department. Men and women who are fit for work freely admit that they have not worked for months.
Regulations Evaded
The number of unregistered young women found in apartment houses makes it obvious that manpower registrations have never been thoroughly checked against the census or against Social Security registrations. The age groups for which many of them would qualify were called on to register for employment many months ago, but these girls have apparently been allowed to go their own way and to avoid doing a day's work.
In addition, the number of girls who, on their own admission, have been lost sight of by the manpower authorities also reflects adversely on the administration. Numbers of them have been released by the manpower authorities in other towns and have lived precariously in Auckland for varying periods without reporting to the National Service authorities. Their own statements indicate that it is comparatively easy to defeat a public department, which is designed to make the best possible use of the country's labour resources.
Sly-grogging, the supply of liquor to natives and common thefts are also among the offences which come before the notice the patrol.
