TERRITORIAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20136, 28 March 1929, Page 15

TERRITORIAL NOTES

RETURN Of THE BATTALION [By Sam Browne.] The officer commanding tho Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, considers quite rightly that the camp at Waianakarna was a great success. It afforded officers and men an excellent opportunity of experiencing a more advanced training than has been earned out for many years, and being associated with units from the Canterbury district tended to create a spirit of friendly competition which drew the very best from all who took part in the hig scheme. He was particularly enthusiastic regarding the very friendly relations which existed betwen the Otagos and Canterbury's, and spoke in warm terms of the many courtesies shown our troops by their Comrades from the north. Not the.least of these was the sending across the river of the Canterbury Regimental Band to play the Otagos out of camp. Many wartime friendships betwen officers and men of the two battalions were renewed, and one and all were extremely sorry when the brigade camp came to an end. Colonel J. Hargest, D. 5.0., M.C., A.G.C., ivho acted as brigade commander, tras present with his staff to bid farewell to Lientenant-eoloncl H. E. Barrowdougb, D. 5.0., M.C., and Ids troops. As the train moved out of cam]) tho strains of ‘ Auld Lang Syne ’ were heard, played by the Canterbury Regimental Band. As this is Colonel Barrowclongh’s last year in command of Ist Battalion, and the camp the last he will attend, it must be extremely gratifying to him to have experienced such a very pleasant ending to a most successful term of command. MORAL EFFECTS OF CAMPS. Military chaplains in Australia strongly refute reflections cast on the moral aspect of citizen force camps. At the Congregational Union Congress it was said that the camps were harmful to clean-minded youths. Padre J. A. Gault, senior camp chaplain for Victoria, said that the assertion was entirely incorrect. Nothing but good resulted from compulsory camps. The training and associations made there gave the best physical, spiritual, and moral uplift possible. Padre Gault is well known to trainees who have passed through Seymour since camps were resumed six years ago, for in that period he has never missed a cam)). “ 1 can unhesitatingly say that no mother need dread her hoy going to camp. The best possible care is given to the men’s moral and spiritual wellbeing at Seymour.” Boys in camp nowadays were under stricter supervision than at home, he said. There were stringent prohibitions against drinking and gambling. At tho last camp efforts were made to stamp out swearing. A fine of 2s 6d inflicted every time a trainee offended had such good effect that bad language disappeared. The entertainments, such as concerts, picture shows, sing-songs, and talks, given nightly in the Y.M.C.A. and Church of England huts, were so attractive that trainees had no desire to go into tho Seymour township. This year the average number of trainees who applied for leave nightly was forty out of a total.of 2,000 men in camp. Eighty per cent, of the remainder wont to the concerts. After the entertainments the chaplains gave talks of a- religions or moral nature. Crowds of youths had foiind that those talks marked tho turning points of their lives. In one camp alone 140 young men had decided to follow the teachings of Christianity they had learned there. Hundreds of others had personally thanked the chaplains for the beneiits they had received. Camp chaplains were now receiving every help and consideration from the higher commanders in the camp. Trainees now were allowed to choose their own tent mates, and the sale of indecent newspapers was prohibited. “ The whole military training does a hoy good, and I would be sorry to see it discontinued,” ho concluded. Adjutant S. Smart, of the Salvation Army, said that the influence working for the uplift of tho youths far outweighed any with contrary tendencies. Ho would be sorry to see camps abolished. Padre A. L. Davidson, who has had a very large experience with Citizen Force* and A.T.F. camps, said that the moral tone generally had greatly improved in the last six years. The conference of chaplains at the end of the camps this year agreed on this. In tile healthy open-air holiday hie of a cam]) clean-minded boys were not influenced by a few of the objectionable type. . . Gam]) commanders were realising the chaplains’ big part in improving the moral tone of camps, and were assisting them in every way, lor much more satisfactory work was got from decent men than from tho other type.