THE TAKAPAU CAMP & MR. BOYS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2157, 25 May 1914, Page 6

THE TAKAPAU CAMP & MR. BOYS

Sir,—As one who spent fourteen c!a?r, as a private at tho 'Tafcapait Camp," I fool that tho sweeping strictures on the camp, and those hi cJiarge»*bf it, made by the Hev. F. W. Boys, as reported by you, cannot bo allowed to pass uncballengod.

No doubt there- is some measure of truth in what Uγ. Boys has said with regard to permanent men. and to subalterns, hut liis remarks in both eases aro greatly exaggerated and load to misconception.

I .presume thsfc when ho refers to staff-men of tho British "Tommy', , type, Mr. Boys me»ns the staff sergeantmajors. Possibly there arc some of these who aro over-exacting and unwise in their methods of enforcing discipline, though in my experionco at camp of somcf eight or ten of these gentlemen, and I was so placed as to see a good deal of thorn, 1 saw very iittlo evidence ,to justify.such a contention. Indeed,I several times wondered a.t the patience shown by soaie of tho sergeantmajors at conduct that could only be called impertinent. Mr. Boys's remarks, -whether lm means it or "not, lead one to the conclusion that these meit as a whole are martinets, almost - brutal, and quite unfitted for their positions. This I. assert unhesitatingly is a gross misstateijrent.

I agree with the contention' that the finding of suitable jttnkr officers'is a difficult' problem, winch on the whole, however, the authorities are solving very well. Perhaps so-me ot ottr subalterns aro too young and inexnoriene&ii for the responsible positions winch tliey hold; but I neither saw myself, nor heard of anything to justify such extreme -statements as that about- the "goading" ra* ferrojl to. As to Sunday foot-hall in camp"; most people, even some of the chaplains, regarded the match played a 5 a wholesome, harmless occupation,* muciibottor for all concerned than kmfing about camp. When Mr. Boys says: "I have no hesitation in saying that if Sunday afternoon is used for football, with "all its attendant excitement, tho men will get out of listml," dees lie suggest that Sunday football is productive of disorder, while football on any other day is not, or docs he- believe that all football should k> suppressed as making for disorder?

As for the bad language nsod, itflnme from men who aro swearers habitually, iii town and out of town, Sundays and week days, and would Jiiivs been used by these men on that day wherever they wore. I know personalty tlmt many officers nnd N.C.O.'h flic! their best to suppress such language. Towards tho end of his criticism as reported, Jfr Boys appears to show himself to be opiwscd to the training scheme altogcther. Hβ says that there h great expense for little good and much moral harm.

If Mr. Boys imagines that the nwrnl harm comes from ba<! companionship— and what else could it come from?—at these camps, I admit that there is bittl oompanionship to bo found there, "as there is at every turn throuelwat life. But there is also much good conipntu'onship, and a man must make his r'lioico Further, as Mr. Boys must know a man who seas evil resists it, it, h the stronger for the test. After all'thereis a- great deal more of the sootl than the bad, and even supposing tliatcireuni. stances throw a man with 'bad companions in ramp, ton days wilt not con-unt him if his ussociates for tlw rest of flw year are good. Tim criticism ot Qn\oral Godley would be almost too trivial

to notice, wore it-"not an uncalled-for super at a distinguished officer. General Godlry, in the eotirse of his carper, has no doubt roughed'it many times, fa* aioro than w<» did at Taknpau. ' Only ono who is apparently an enemy to the wholo ' Torvitorial sehemo would have raised such a point. IVw men who went through the camp at Takapait, or who know anything of our military system, will bo disposed to agree with Mr* Boys, \lial- it is productive of very little good. I'ersoiially, .1. feel a hotter educated Kid :i stronger man for my period in eansp, mid 1 know not a few others who Hold tlio same opinion about themselves.- I an), etc.,

■ ■ ■■.::;■■■.■ .' DOUGLAS' YEATS, ■ ■ 6th • Uegimenfc.