"WE ARE IT."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2171, 9 June 1914, Page 6

"WE ARE IT."

MOTTO FOR RAILWAY CORPS. COLONEL HILEY'S ID"E"A. By a happy inspiration, Colonel E. H. Hiley, Director of. Railway Transport, 011 Saturday night supplied the Kailway Corps of the Now Zealand Engineers with a motto which is likely to stick. Colonel Hiley was present at. the smokeconcert given by the officers and N.C.O.'s of the North Island Battalion (Railway Corps) of the Engineers, who have just concluded a successful week's camp at Mahanga Bay. Responding to the toast of the Railway Battalion, Colonel Hiley advised the men to do their host to make tho corps the most successful in tho Territorial forcos. Ho wanted them always to bo spick and span, and, when they donned their uniform, to realise that they were "it." For that reason, he suggested they should take as their motto, "We Are It." The suggestion was greeted with loud applause. Colonel G. Barclay, who has been in charge of the camp, presided at tho smoke concert, which was held in Godberjs Rooms, Courtenay Place, and other officers present were: Colonel Johnston, Director of Military Transport, Colonel M'Villy, Colonel Begg, and Captain Edwards, Staff Officers. Imperial Officers. In proposing the toast of "The Army, Navy and Territorial Forces," Colonel Barclay said that they now had many Imperial officers in New Zealand, and they had the host officers the War Offico could send them. (Applause.) Those officers were sparing no pains to mako the Territorials realise thoir worth, and tho fact that. they were really a branch of the'lmperial Forces. The toast was drunk, coupled' with the name of Colonel Johnston. Colonel Johnston responded, touching on subjects interesting to the corps. Mr. Baxter, of tho Railway Department, in the absence of Mr. Burnett, Chief Engineer, proposed "The Railway Battalion." He referred to the excellent display made by tho Corps at ths recent tournament in Auckland. Those not acquainted with tho inner working of tho Corps marvelled that they so ably conducted themselves there. For a long time the Railway Corps waj mainly a "paper corps," but it had developed rapidly, till now it was well (Ktablished.

Colonel Hiley's Advice. Responding to tho toast, Colonel Hile.y said that he was proud to, be the Colonol of such a corps. General Godley bad told him that it had a great future/and he (Colonel Hiley) was sure of it. When lie came to JJcw Zealand and found a Railway Corps existing mainly on paper, ho made up his mind that he would not be colonel to it unless it ceased to be a corps on paper. Ho had never yot belonged to anything that ho was not proud of. (Applause.) Thev had now got round the first corner, and should, now prosper. In years to como they would remember, with a glow, that- they had belonged to tho Railway Corps. Ho wanted no apology to be made when the Railway Corps came along, and ho would like their motto to bo ,r Wc Are It." (Applause.) Thero was no reason why thtsy should not be the smartest corps in the Territorials,, as they were composed mostly of picked men. He had put a test on tho men, and had done so purposely, when the camp was proposed: Ho sent a letter to Colonel Barclay, 6aying that tho Department would allow the men three days, provided the men were willing to give three days of their own. He. did that because ho did not want the men to think that tho camp was a picnio. Ho was now going to modify that, and certainly would not ask any man to give up three days of his holiday. (Applause.) Three days wore much, but he wanted the men to tako it as a compliment. In future it was tho idea that promotions to the commissioned Tanks should coma from tho non-commissioned-ranks, and, therefore, selection would bo very careful and very searching. If any of the men desired to obtain commissions—and ho hoped they all wanted to stay in the corps after their term of service was up—they would havo to fit themselves in every possible way. They would havo to show that they could lead, and that tho mon in their centres could look up to them. They wore not going to have men in the Railway Corps who wero not looked up to by their fellow-men.

On resuming his scat, Colonel Hiloy was. Riven three cheers, and the men showed their readiness to adopt the motto by singing "Wo Are It, Because We Are It." Value of Colonel M'Villy also responded to the toast. He looked forward to the day, lie said, wh<sn the discipline which they received in. the Territorials would bo felt in every day life. They wanted the public to see that members of the Railway Corps were prepared to do their duty, both in tho corps and in privato life. Major Lowe proposed the toast of "The Visitors," and thanked tho heads of the Railway Department for the assistance which they had given to tho men attending tho camp. Colonel Beg", Captain Edwards, and Lieutenant Grovcr responded to tho toast, and the men gave Captain Edwards three cheers for the interest wliich he had taken in them while the camp was in progress. During the evening members present provided an enjoyable musical programme.