BAD FOR MORALE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 178, 30 July 1942, Page 6

BAD FOR MORALE

LACK OF EDUCATION

STUDY SCHEME URGED

"I wonder what sort of citizens a lot of these boys will turn out when it is all over—maybe they think their life's work is complete when they have served in the army," said a New Zealand officer to-day, commenting on the current agitation for the introduction of an army education scheme.

"Perhaps some of them think that the State should tolerate any misdoing or laziness, after they have served in the army. The world will have to change a lot if they are to be fitted in to the scheme of things, and keep above the bread line. "The mental outlook of many of them to-day is not very encouraging. Service means to so many of them in New Zealand simply indifference and dodging. Study and labour are quite outside the range of their activities. It is the demoralising effect on the younger ones—those betwe<J: 18 and 22—that is the problem in our standing army. All the padres in the world, concentrated on one company, would not change them.

"The young men respect their officers because it means fines and less leave if they do not. They are not actuated by a spirit of efficiency and keenness, but rather by fear of consequences—which is a bad thing."