TERRITORIAL CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 259, 2 May 1912, Page 7

TERRITORIAL CAMP.

To the Editor. Sir,— It is amusing to note the zeal with which "the powers that be" in our military world hasten to emphasise the effect which compulsory military training has on the manners and morals of our youth. In the report of an interview which appeared in a recent issue of your paper, I see that Lieut.Col. Malone told your representative that on only two occasions in the recent camp did he hear any swearing! If silch is the case I can only say that either Col. Malone was temporarily "hard of hearing, or that the news of his approach was passed on from tent to tent with remarkable celerity. I think everyone but Col. Malone must have .heard a considerable amount of very forcible language indeed. This was only to be expected when we consider that all sorts and conditions of men were encamped under conditions wliich were excuse enough for any amount of "cussing," and 1 it is not remarkable that even the up-, lifting effects of military training could not counteract the feelinsr of disgust at the bad management wliich was a fea- j ture of the cnmp. Col. Malone'a remark reminds us of flenpral Godley's oft repeated statement that "the men arc unanimous in their praise 'of the scheme." Tf his method* of enquiry at the TTawera camp may be taken as a criterion, this statement is not worth much, for he asked the opinions of only about twenty or thirty men of the (550 in camp. —I am, etc., "RANK AND FILE." New Plymouth. May 1, 1012.