A PLAIN SOLDIERLY SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2549, 25 August 1915, Page 8

A PLAIN SOLDIERLY SPEECH

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.} . Auckland, August 24. A plain, pointed, soldierly address was delivored to the men of tho Reinforcements by Colonel J. E. Hume, tho Officer Commanding the district, when they paraded at tlio. Drill Hall. "Wo are not saying good-bye to-day, this is only au revoir, for lik© the other contingents, you will have tho opportunity of visiting Auckland again before you go away,!' he said. 1 I want to say one or two plain words. First and foremost, I want yoii to thoroughly realise that from the time you stop out of this hall you are soldiers of the King. You have to come up to tlio highest ideals of the British Army, and I am perfectly sure that you will live up to them. Do not forget that the basis of all efficiency is discipline. Ours is no irksome discipline, but a, pleasing .discipline, taught from the soldiering .'point of view. Your comrades who have gone before you bave set you a high standard of efficiency and gallantry. It is your duty to unliold it." "And now I want to brine; to your notice the temptations which soldiers more than ever at this time are brought into contact with. During the war your friends and others desire to i oxtend the hand of hospitality to men in khaki, and it is for them to decide whether their hospitality will do a good or a bad turn to soldiers. I am not a Temperance lecturer, and do not speak, with any feeling of wowserism, but tho verv little trouble we havo had liere has been duo to the cursed system of 'shouting.'" '

"When von are in the King's uniform, try and put it on one side. Nine cases put of ten tho man who seeks to do a sood turn in. this way .does a harmful one."