SALUTING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 175, 27 July 1942, Page 2

SALUTING

There have been frequent references in the New Zealand Press recently suggesting that high-ranking officers in Australia are not only in favour of saluting regulations being strictly enforced, but declaring that saluting is essential to discipline and the winning of the war. What applies to Australia, applies also to NewZealand in this respect. "A highranking officer" is reported to have said (Star 21/7/42) that "saluting does not indicate subservience, but confidence between officer and man." As a full-fledged private with 4J years' military experience, may I express some opinions which I have never heard disputed. Saluting is absolutely hated by 100 per cent of men and 95 per cent of officers. It does express to the men an inferiority which is not felt by them. Orders that are deliberately disobeyed on every possible occasion are detrimental to discipline. The average Anzac soldier believes, and rightly so, that he is as good a man as the average officer. Instead of inspiring confidence between officers and men, this saluting business inspires distrust and dislike and all sorts of subterfuges to dodge it and avoid contact with officers. I am proud to be allowed to wear the uniform of the finest division of troops in the world which has so much respect for itself that it won't salute if it can possibly avoid it. As a "Tommy" said to me one day in Piccadilly when I asked him "if his arm ached," "It's all very well for you New Zealanders, they don't look for salutes from you, we have to" To salute your own immediate officers once a day and to salute an officer before and after official business with him is quite all right; beyond that, CUT IT OUT.