THE TAKAPAU CAMP

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2149, 15 May 1914, Page 8

THE TAKAPAU CAMP

A CHAPLAIN'S CRITICISM REV; F. W. BOYS' VIEWS 51ie suggestion has been made to us that the Press Association's summary of the criticism by the' ltev. F. AV. Boys of the Takapau Camp did notcover some of the points of the reverend gentleman's comments, which were necessary to a clear understanding of his attitude. In view of our comments on his views, it is only fair that \vo should publish his interview with a representative of tho ."Manawatu Standard" in full. After somo general expressions of opinion eulogising an articiu in the. "Standard," and a reference to tho reports of the riot incident. Jio proceeds as follows: — "Ono has no desire to make sweeping, statements, and in any criticisms I may make you must understand there were exceptions in qll cases. I wish it to be clearly understood that I am in ho way.referring to my own regiment, but to the camp as a whole. -~ The Pleasing Features. "One must first speak of the pleasing features. The colonels and senior officers and some subalterns of the regiiments honestly did all within their power for the comfort of the men. Tho doctors were indefatigable in their attention to the sanitary conditions. The staff and commanding . officers were] ready to. recognise the work the chap- I laiii3 were attempting, aiid th 6 marquees erected by the various churches, the Y.MiC.A., and the Salvation Army were a great blessing, while the behaviour of the men in the marquees was exemplary. The Government should rccoguiso this work', and itself provide a few marquees and allot an orderly for each recognised marquee. As a chaplain ono moved in and out of the camp and the greatest respect was shown by the men of all denominations. There was an absence of drunkenness, and although some drink was brought into the camp, and men who should have uphold the authorities aided in evading the law. tho authorities ore to bo congratulated upon the success of tho dry nantcen. Bad Language. "I now come to those things which are causing grave unrest iimong the bettor class of citizens who are , anxious for tbo moral welfare of tlieir sons. The stranger taking a .walk in camp after dark is shocked at the bad language. ■ 1 am told that the camp was aii improvement upon some other camps and many officers" made laudable attempts to suppress this habit when tho meii were'on drill) but - .there was a section of.the-men who made the place hideous with their oaths. I believe these men were only a very small percentage of tho total number, but they made things decidedly unpleasant, and as this section of the community is kept in' order in tho street and upon trains and trams, so it should bo made impossible for a few youths ..o shout obscenity at the top of their voices under cover of darkness in tho camp. Tent Arrangements Baa. My first criticism of the authorities is that the tent arrangements are bad. Eight in a'tent is three too many for tho well-being of the boys. Then it was a cruel thing to put tho boys into those tents which were manifestly unfit for their purpose. On Saturday morning ono felt Eorry for those who at reveille had to shake tho wet out of. their'sleep- , ,ing rugs before folding them. Some of tho tents were little better than a sieve, and tho Department shoujd destroy them. There wero complaints of shortage of straw, but as in tho caso of the shortage of food, tho straw was in tho camp in plenty., But the difficulty lay in its distribution. I think everyone- is agreed that those- responsible for the order forbidding the men to bring a change of jolothing were guilty of cruelty and should bo called upon to explain their conduct. . , The Riot on Sunday. 'Hell let loose" is the only adequate .phraso which will describe certain parts qf Sunday, May 3, . tho day .our young men'were compelled to spend in camp. The attitude taken by extreme militarists of explaining it away is very absiird. Some take up an attitude "there was no riot/ , and if there was a riot "it was tho Red Feds who caused it." 'Die camp was seething with discontent. Quiot fellow's.who say but little felt tho oppression of the authorities, somo because their ■ religious convictions -were flouted, somo becauso of the extra days in camp,; some becauso junior officers were treating Ihem like dogs, some because they could not get minor griov; nnces redressed, and many because they .'were against the whole system which forced them to bo present. Many men complained bitterly of being sent from pillar to post when they wished a, grievance redressed, and aftor thinking the matter had reached tho right quarter wero very angry to find that their renuest was thrown out through some flaw in tho presentation of''their claim. Too much' rod r ,tape was tho general opinion of'those- who sought redress. , . ■ .. "English Tommy Typo." . , -There are two classes of men interested, in .'this.movement .which will need to be. closely watched by the public.'. Thero U. first, the ; "English Tommy" type of permanent man, who all the time forgets •tliis. is t a citizen army and can only bo run'- by retaining tho good will of the lads —tho man who would "down" every complaiiit" and'deny that any ever had a grievance, who yearns to increase tho severity of tho system and talks wildly of excluding reporters from tho camp and censuring the Press.- And then, tho young' subaltern' 'is a great problem. I cannot, speak too highly of some of them, but ;others clothed in a little 'brief , authority.'simply goad.the men to ■mutiny, and by their bad examples when off duty would, destroy tho discipline of any. camp. Mere hoys themselves they .liavo neither tho knowledgo .of human nature nor the sense of responsibility adequate to their position. Had the non. com. officers (who won my admiration) behaved as some of the subalterns behaved • they. would have lost their .stripes at once. 1 ; Unrest and Discontent. There is a feeling among some of the men who lost over a fortnight's work that tho' State'ie making a very severe demand upon them. This feeling of unrest and discontent, and not the man ivhp.did not got his tea or , the "lied Feds" who inay have been in camp, explains the outbreak, which -was of a most serious nature. The authorities are face to face with, the whole question of Sunday in.camp. Whether the men have a grievance or not, I have no hesitation in saying that if Sunday afternoon is used for the football match with all its attendant excitement, the men will get out of hand and there will be trouble. I am sure that if I could hnve transferred the scenes and the language used at Takapau on the Sunday afternoon and evening to, say, Lambton Quay, Wellington, there are hundreds of Christian parents who would sooner go to prison than have their boys forced to spend a Sunday under such conditions. Movement Must Be Watched. With tho editor of tho : 'Stanciard" I fool that this movement needs jealously watching, and that enormous expense is being thrust upon the ratepayers lor little material good and for grave moral harm. I think that no married man should . be forced to go into cam£, that the time

in camp should bo reduced and tho whole 'burden lightened. My final criticisms is that General Godley should have endured the saino hardness our boys wero askod to face, should liave slept in a tent at the camp and not softly in the Johnston mansion. ANOTHER CHAPLAIN'S IMPRESSIONS. The Rev. G. Dudd, Presbyterian minister, of Fcilding, who was attached as chaplain to tho camp at Takapau, writes as follows:—"'JJhank you for your ar- . tide in to-day's issue (May 14), and for the deserved rebuke you have administered to another chaplain. Of him all I will say is this: 'Boys will bo boys!' I fully endorse what Mr. Walton and Mr. Gardner say regarding tlie conduct of the men. Our marquees were crowded nightly. I had scores of conversations with men who gathered there. It delighted me to notice their cheerfulness oven under tho most trying conditions. I have been to three camps now, and I heard less to offend the ear this time than on any other occasion. All tho men in camp aro not Sundayschool teachers. There aro bound to bo disturbing elements, I have been amazed to find them in so short a time so well controlled. "It has been my privilege.to mess with the officers of three different regiments in three different camps. The enthusiasm, self-sacrifice, and keen devotion to duty of these officers have aroused my respect and admiration. They aro there to serve their men to the host 'of their ability, and to a very large extent indeed are honoured and resppcteu. " 'Tis true, lads will be tempted in j camp. They are being tempted elseI where. 'Tis true, that Sunday was not observed as I would like it to be. But Sabbath-breakers are to be found in large numbers outside military camps. Wo had a splendid service- in the morning, we had a good rally of Bible class men in the afternoon, and while the socalled 'riot , raged, we—all unconscious of Irolding a most hearty meeting, in which several Territorials took part. "I have watched this movement keenly. The more I see of it the more favourably it impresses me. It is doinc a real service to hundreds and hundreds of our lads. Of the interest of the permanent officers in our side of the work I cannot sneak too highly. They give us all the help and encouragement that they can. I esteem it a great privilege to V associated with them, even in"a small way. and with my brother chaplains in. the: initial, stages of this important and patriotic movement. It will make for pood order and good government, and if we who are chaplains seize our onportunitics it will make, too, for righteousness I"