"THE DEFENCE CAMPS."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 14

"THE DEFENCE CAMPS."

Sir, —In your issue of April 16, appeared under the above heading 'a letter signed, "Young New Zealander." To its originator, it may have 6eemed to have contained n small amount of humour; but I'm sure that, to all fair-minded-readers of your..valuablQ_columns, it will appear as one of the very weak arguments raised against the Defence system of this country, by a few. individuals who have not the slightest spark of patriotism in their composition. The first point of his weak line consists of slighting remarks concerning our General than' whom the citizen soldiers of this country readily agree no one has worked harder to make the new system a success. ' Then he confronts us -with tho stern fact that 400 boys absolutely, refused to turn out at the first bugle call, and stayed in till 8 o'clock.. Well, it appears to me that the sergeant-major, with his cane, would have been the right man in th« right place, and would, have, stirred up sufficient enthusiasm in them • to have induced them to jump into their clothes without further buglo calls. As Mr. Editor mentions in his remarks, hitches are bound to occur when a new system is being inaugurated, but, for enthusiasm, I should like to bring our sarcastic friend up to our next training enmp at Eotorua. I find men everywhere looking forward to the day of pitching camp, and othor years during camp (and there are no grounds for supposing it to 1m otherwise this year) have alway.? found them regretting that only one' week could be spent under canvas. If he could spare a dav or two to visit the camp of the 4th Regiment ho .would .go away with his mind cleared of all doubts as to the enthusiasm of the men, everyone of whom works that General Godley in hia report may say that theirs has been the smartest and most efficient he has visited.—l am, etc., KEEN FOR CAMP..