THE MARCH-PAST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 4

THE MARCH-PAST

» The march-past of tho members oftho Expeditionary Force .now in camp at Trentham, whicn took place on the_ racecourse yesterday, was a most impressive spectacle. Nearly 4000 men took part. They were a fine-looking body of soldiers, and had the appearance of being well able to bear the hardships and exposure of a strenuous campaign. When their training is_ completed' they should be in a position to play an effective part in the great struggle which is now going on, and to fight alongside of the. best soldiers the British Empire can produce. They the onlooker as a hardy and handy type of men, [physically fit, and mentally alert; ! and their life at _ Trentham undor military rule is evidently producing good results. It is < a wholesome open-air life which is bracing the men up, and i the discipline to which they aro subjected is also telling its tale. They all seemed keen on their work, and anxious to acquit themselves in a manner worthy of British soldiers. The admiration which theso fin© specimens of the manhood of New Zealand inspired- among the civilian spectators could not fail to have been tempered by a- feeling of regret that it was necessary io take so many of our young men from useful occupations in town and country. Tho Dominion needs them all for the work of developing its varied resources; but at the present moment the call of the Empire for fighting men cannot be ignored. The duty of defending our national existence must take precedence of all other considerations, and it is very satisfactory to know that so many of our young men are offering their services to the Empire in this critical juncture. So far no very urgent appeal has been made in New Zealand, and yet wo are assured that recruits aro coming forward in sufficient numbers to meet present requirements. It is fenerally recognised that the whole Impire will have to do more than it is now doing if the war is to be brought to a successful conclusion within a reasonable period of time, and there is every reason to believe that New Zealand will do all that may be required of it. The young men of this Dominion possess their full share of the British fighting spirit, and those who had the privilege of witnessing yesterday's marchpast must have been convinced that tho enemy's taunt that the British race is becoming decadent and effete is certainly not true as far as New. Zealand is concerned. All will agree that the men who havo left their ordinary employment in order to fight tho Empire's battles in other parts of the world should receive generous treatment from the State. It is therefore satisfactory to know that tho question of ponsions to soldiers and their dependents is re-ceiving-careful attention. The opinion was recently expressed at a meeting of tho Dunedin Patriotic Association that the present scale is inadequate. The Peijie Ministee has already promised that the Government will do tho right thing, and the Minister of Defence has given an assurance that the matter is at present under consideration. Mr. Allen has further stated that the Government is waiting for certain information from the Commonwealth authorities. It is well to know that the Government is moving in tho matter, and no doubt a definite announcement on the subject will be made without any unnecessary delay. Tho people of New Zealand are quite willing to bear the. burden of doing "tllfl naht thing" in (hiD impei'tHAl * matter*