MILITARY TRAINING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4603, 19 September 1923, Page 4

MILITARY TRAINING.

AT NARROW NECK CAMP. “BE PREPARED AND EFFICIENT.” During last week a school of instruction for officers, n c.o’s. and. men was held at Narrow Neck. The following Paeroa men attended the course : Lieutenants G. N. Hart and W. L. Lawrence, of the Hauraki Regiment ; Sei'gt.HMajor F. Peacock, Sergi. C. Wells, and Corporal J. Peacock, of the local Cadet company. Together with the above-mentioned,, some two hundred officers and •non-commission-ed officers, men, and lads put in a week’s work there under Major J, A. Wallingford, M.C, (Camp Commandant), Lieut. R. S. Judson, V.C., D,C.M., M.M., N.Z.S.C. (Adjutant and Quartermaster), and other officers. The camp was something out of the ordinary run, for pnly officers and n.c.o.’s of the Territorials, and Senior, Cadets were present, including lads from all parts of the Auckland province. There were represented the Bay of Islands, Paeroa, Rotorua, Hamilton, Thames, Kaipara, and Qisborne. Auckland City boys were also there from King’s College, Auckland Grammar School, Technical College, and the Mt. Albeit Grammar School. The aim of those in charge of the camp was to train those men so that in turn they could train, their, units in their respective districts, and the result of last week’s instruction has been most satisfactory. There were some of New Zealand’s most efficient officers and sergeants-major training the men and lads, and the standard set was genuinely high. After a few days of ordinary routine work under Sergt.-Major T. P. Laffey (first class W.0.), N.Z.P.S., it was a revelation io see the keenness and enthusiasm disr played by everyone. People who know little or nothing about the Army may imagine that their sons are subjected to brutal treatment and coarse language from the drill instructors, but nothing could be farther frjom the truth. Taking the Camp Sergt.-Major as an example—and there were seven other first class instructors—one was impressed by the type of man tha's 'trains the recruits. There Is enthusiasm and firmness on the part of the instructors, but they have a sufficient command of the King’s English to express themselves in Parliamentary language, and no boy could say that he learned to swear as a result rf anything an instructor had said to him. As regards swearing, the camn standing orders stated that anyone heard using bad language of any kind would be immediately dismissed, and would be barred from attending anv future course. A feature of the camp was that every member present was given the opportunity to command. The men and lads have been fitting themselves to become efficient officers, and have undergone a practical course not only of instruction, but an instructing. The result has been tihat self-conscious-ness has disappeared and a manliness and self-possession has shown itself. ROUTINE. As regards training there was nothing stale in the camp. The activities were varied, and included infantry training, physical training, and musketry. A novel item in the training was the communication drill, in which the lads were formed up in two ranks, a good distance between each, and shouted commands to each other. By this method the instructors aimed at teaching clear, concise words of command delivered from a distance. CARE - OF THE LADS.Parents need never have any qualm as to how their boys will be looked after. Pages might be wTitten ’of the care and attention the lads received from the authorities at Narrow Neck, but space will not permit. In, each hut there were two braziers and an abundant .supply of firewood, and the boys were able to put ferocious fires on in their, huts for the purpose of drying their boots, etc. (Several wet days were experienced.) Colds .were very few and far between amongst the men in camp. Each boy was served out with four double blankets and a mattress. Beds were also provided—no .such thing as steeping on the floor —and the huts were all adequately lighted by electricity. SICK PARADES. There was a Red Cross sergeant and his staff in camp, and a sick par,ade was held every and evening, when a doctor attended and saw each sick man who attended the parade. Owing to the care and organisation displayed by the authorities, and the elaborate sanitary arrangements provided, the sick men in camp were very few, and the doctor’s chief business was to patch up bruises and cuts caused by the boys tripping on the scoria. THE' MESSROOM. A visit to the messroom would have been an absolute revelation. Parents, especially, would have been impressed by the cleanliness and orderliness of everything, and the high quality and variety of the food. Everything was run on line,s akin to a military camp, although a distinct advantage was gained by the employment, of civilian cooks, whose efforts were much appreciated. Civilian waiters were also employed. Thus our soldier lads were not called upon to wash their own eating utensils even. The food served to the lads was of a very high standard, and was carefully prepared and cooked. The cook and his staff wore subjected to a close scrutiny each day by the authorities, and every care was exercised. SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS. Rows of shower-baths were available, as also were several huge por- ! celain plunge baths, and hot water , conld be had in any quantity. Generally speaking, the whole of the sanitary conveniences might very well have been favouiably compared with an up-to-date hotel. RECREATION. A good deal of time was devoted to recreational training, and the lads were coached In wrestling, boxing, and Rugby and Association football by the instructors each afternoon. Leave from camp was not prohibited, but was not in any way encouraged.

The authorities recognised that the boys could not keep ftt and we H do justice to their work when on parade if they were given leave and allowed to keep late hours. It was further explained that it was not only in the lads’ own interests, but in the interests of their parents from a financial viewpoint, that leave should not be granted too frequently. With a view to keeping the leave down to a minimum the authorities arranged with Mr Patterson, of the Y.M.C.A, Auckland, to provide amusement for the men in the camp. As usual the Y.M.C.A. spared no efforts to make things interesting. A hut was fitted up and a piano provided, where recreation was possible. Such games as ping-pong and quoits were played, and Mr Patterson provided a cinematograph show most evenings. The ladies of Devonport and neighbourhood entertained those in camp at a dance and social in the Narrow Neck Hall on Thursday. On Saturday morning a tabloid athletic meeting was held, the various events being entered into with zest by the competitors. The athletic gathering was an appropriate breaking up, and the lads were not slow to show their appreciation to the authorities for their kindly. thought and consideration. A GREAT SUCCESS. The whole camp was a huge success, and reflected the greatest credit on the authorities. The comparatively •trifling expense has teen more than justified, and if the Defence authorities would invest more money in such undertakings there would be far leas criticism of their policy by many who consider that they should concentrate upon up-to-date methods pf training.