YOUNG MEN AND THE NATIONAL RESERVE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2507, 7 July 1915, Page 5

YOUNG MEN AND THE NATIONAL RESERVE.

Sir,-rRe the National Reserve .V olun-, ieor Defence Force. As fhere seems- to. bo a misunderstanding in the mind of 1 tie general'public aa-to the eligibility of members,, a little light on the subject would be acceptable, I believe, to hundreds of men who are giving a lot of their time to 'training, drill, etc., so as. to arrive at a state of efficiency for the day when, should their services be needed, they will be able to take an active 'part in 'home defence. .The writer has been under the impression . that the . National Reserve Force was' only to include men who were beyond the age-' limit for. foreign service, or who were otherwise in a position /which made . it impossible: for them to join the Expeditionary Forces. What is the position to-day? Numbers of healthy young fellows well under 30,- many from 22 to 26 years of age, swelling the ranks instead of sending in their names for enlistment,- and\ God _knows Britain needs them all. It is ,all very' well to say that many of'them, are married. Surely tile life of a young married man is not much more valuable than that of a single man, and if employers are | paying salaries to those who leave for the front, those men are really in a better financial position than whon in their billets, as they could leave their wages to their wives and could surely manage for themselves on .their pay. There is a drill competition to be held on July 10 of squads from various city and suburban platoons and it seemß that quito a large percentage of these young fellows are selected and are putting in a lot of extra drill to perfect themselves. for this event, and this to the exclusion of a number, of .vol-,

tmteers who know their work, but are getting on in years. To what end aro these men working ? Is it for the advancement of the National Reserve or is.it for the glorification of the young men in the f-anks and their young officers and non-ooms ? _ It seems to the writer that the National Reserve is being mado a kind of sanctuary for many of those who "jib" at enlisting. A young man was heard to remark on tho subject of enlisting that-he was not "taking it on." I havo spoken to sooros of City men on this matter and nearly all agree that unless a proper understanding .is arrived at the movement will eventually fall through. Personally I am an enthusiast for a -home' defence force, and havo given my quota of time to it, and I think a very effective force can be, obtained if matters aro placed 011 a sound working basis. The position now is no one knows where we are or what We are likely to arrive at, especially as it seems no_ rifles will bo obtainable for some considerable time. I shall be glad if others will ventilate some of' the opinions they have expressel to me—l am, etc., OLD SOLDIER. Wellington, July 5, 1915. .