AFTER ORINGI.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 5

AFTER ORINGI.

CONDUCT OF THE' TERRITORIALS. THE iS'IJXT CAM I'. Less than a week ago Oringi presented a ficeno of animation and military activity; to-day there is little remaining evi'dence of tho large and important camp which has just been held. The tenia have all been taken doivn (with tho exception of a few occupied by tho permanent staff in an isolated corner of the field) thu straw bedding removed and burnt, the trenches levelled, and other evidenco of the presence ol' n large body of men who recently occupied the ground under military conditions, almost .entirely oblitcralcd. Tho splendid work which has been douo in breaking camp and placing the livid in readiness for the mounted gathering .which will continence on Monday next is due in a large measure to the effort of Lieutenant Cody, who has had at his service in this work about seventeen members of the field section of the permanent artillery. The amount of transport work necessary lor the accommodation a.Dd provisioning of a large body of men can bo readily understood. The fact that this small company havo been able to carry out the whole of the transport, with ,oltly three field wagons at their disposal, affords u high tribute to their zeal and to tho organising ability of Lieutenant; C'ody. During the past few days tho bulk of tlio fodder and provisions necessary for the mounted camp lias been received and carefully stored away. Although there will be fewer men in tho mounted camp it'will involve almost as mu<!h transport work owing to the necessary provision for tho largo troop of horses. .

Speaking of the arrangements mode by the transport officers and stalf for the entraining of tlio men and their baggage after the Inst camp, a railway official nfc Oringi informed a representative o£ The Dominion that they wero the nearest approach to perfection lie had soon during many years' experience in handling large crowds. Although about three thousand Territorials and their baggago' were entrained on Saturday morning there was not the slightest hitch, and every train left to time. Only the excellent behaviour of tho in«n made such a result possible. Ho had no hesitation in snyinj (hat ho had never, under any circumstances witnessed better conduct in largo gathering of people. He wished this; statement made public as he lmd had ample opportunity of observing tho general! behaviour of the Territorials and lie wan quite convinced that the reports regarding tho Dannevirko incident had created an impression on Hie public mind which did the majority of the young fellows ami tlieir. responsible officers n grave injustice. A member of the New Zealand Permanent Artillery force who was present during tho whole period of tho camp which terminated on Saturday list, anil who is engaged upon transport work for tile next gathering, also volunteered a statement to our representative regarding the conduct of the Territorials. He claimed to speak with the knowledge •gained during sixteen years of a soldier's life, ten of which had been spent: in I lie ] iiiperi.il Army. He had lived under canvas for a total period of about six years, aucl had participated in many important militiry camps at Home, but had never-been present at any military gathering at which a better spirit was displayed Lv the rank -and ftlo than at the recent Territorial camp. In limiting tliis statement lie had no personal interest at stake. He -was deputed for special work at the. various Orinp camps, and the conduct of the Territorials—good or bad—w;\s a matter of indifference tc iiini personally, but a sense of justic( impelled him to pay his tribute to tin conduct of the Territorials. It was use' less to attempt any denial of tho fact that a few youths had grossly misconducted themselves when on leave, but .the grave error into which tho general public appeared to have fallen was that they had taken liiis regrettable incident as a standard for judging the conduct of tho vast majority of tho men, and tho general discipline of the camp. When it was remembered that llie 'territorial movement in New Zealand was in its iufancv, and liiat the youths had'iiot yet been 'schooled to ,-übmission to strict niilitarv discipline, tlieir behaviour and (he spirit with which I liev went aboul the work were matters lor the highe>' congratulation. The Territorials themselves apiK-irod to be almo-l iiiiani]iion« in tlieir appreciation of the arrangements made for their comfort while under canvas.' There had, of course, been isolated complaints, but. these came from the pampered voulli. who would grumble because his ration did not include iced cake. With regard to occasional outbreaks of ■ misconduct, these might always bo expected on a minor scale. As a rule such exhibitions were due to a dcfect in nutnan nature which no system of military discipline, however str.'.ct, could cure.