THE YOUTHFUL MORALIST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 306, 22 September 1919, Page 4

THE YOUTHFUL MORALIST

LECTURES BY.SENIOR CADETS. A series of lecturettes was recently given ut the Garrison Ilall, Bucklo Street, in connection with th,e syllabus of Senior Cadet training. Captain W. M, Bell (Group Commander) detailed about six cadet ji.c.o.'s, whose ages ranged from 14 to _lfii and without notes they each lcctuTCii for live minutes to their confreres. Tho following are somo of the nia.xirtis 'propounded :— "If you want •lisciv.Cine in your company be sure to correct your ownnaulls flr.st. Don't make a 'raw.recruif look ■ foolish; lio firm with him, but don't nag." '"If private lessons in physical culture, are good, then the training you get here must bo, good; tho only differences are that you get. flic lest and ilort t have to pay i'or it. 1 ' "A shirker from drill thinks he is cle.ver. but in.' the long run the Magistrate makes him pay .£5, ami lie is never fit." ' "If you arc carrying a rifle and have to get through it fence, don't Ik lazy; either take the cartridge out or remove the bolt. Don't let yonr little brothers handle firearms; tliev always think they know lucre about then; than you do. Alwav? remember that if <1 l'itie goes off accidentally there is usually someone in the I'ine of fire." "If you wish to mix with decent people don't swear." "Don't smoke until you are men. and then only in moderation. Nicotine and saltpetre stunt growth, shatter the nerves, . a:M cause indigestion." "Lmvc drink alone. It is only a tui"> of chemicals." 1 r A fnol thinks he will bo hapny if lis gets drunk, but what about the next morning?" ~ "Disincline" was the subject of one o>.two rather neat little speeches. The quo- ( ration given below embodied . the views of n 'ait of sixteen': - . "The mr.st important th'np for a cadet to realise is discipline. Not only must he carry it. out himself, but it is most vital that lip should instil it into everyone under him. Supposing a sergeant . trfd a corporal to 'run upstairs and get my rifle. I forgot it,' the corporal should not w«i\ to consider that the order may bo unfair, bait; should do the job straight away. The sergeant may. be wrong to give the order, but that-is no reason why the corporal should be wrong in not. parrying out the order. Never mind what the "order, if it is given from a superior officer, do it without hesitation. That is discipline. Always 'play the same' to those! under your command. There ore many bovs who hate, drill; won t take ■any notice of what is b*'ng said to them; dress sfovenly. and will generally buck against everything. Now don't attempt harsh measures. Don't 'nag' at him and try and make him leok foolish in front of his pals, but set him quietly and try reasoning with him. Point out that the iob has j?ot to be dmie. and the best way 'to do.a iob is to do it properly. Make him realise that ho is as.. Mod as any cadet, and that you want his assistance, to make vour' company the best. Get your men 'to realise that you have their iiif"re.-t c at heart, and you wi.l get the ■ right sort of discipline. Get your hoys to understand that by self-controil and determination they could rise above all others. Many soldiers now holdmp very high rank commenced We oil the lowest rung of tho ladder. First pick out Vour own faults bsfore attemntinsr to eeirect them in others. Ivopn tlioivi up to obpying orders' at oil times; remind them of the 'thin red line' that 'theirs vr<rj not the, reason why. . . .' Bp firm, and don't 'nag,' pnd you will get discipline.^