The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1913. THE CAMP OUTRAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 290, 30 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1913. THE CAMP OUTRAGES.

General Godley has made the usual diplomatic answer to the charges, of disturbance that have been made against the Oringi Territorial camp. Of course, we expected nothing else, and the delightful diplomacy of the General simply shows that he is well-equipped for the control that he has assumed. He is very ably seconded in his attempt to pour j oil upon troubled waters by the Rev. J. | A. Luxford, a chaplain of the camp, who, [ while admitting that an attack had been I made on our representative,, also ex- [ pressed a natural horror at the language that was used in the camp, while still protesting that a majority of the men behaved excellently and that the discipline generally was good: Nobody has ever denied this, because the majority of the men were not irresponsible hoodlums. But what we are anxious to know is whether even a small minority is to be allowed to rule the roost in defiance of the officers of the camp. We are not concerned about our own reporter. Had he returned with three broken ribs and a black eye and damp clothing it would not have affected the principle at stake. It is stated that he committed a breach of the King's regulations by acting in a civilian as well as a military capacity. Possibly he did, quite unconsciously, but that, surely, was no reason why a band of larrikins should assault him under the very eyes of the officers of the camp. We should like to impress, once and for all, that we nave no personal interest in this incident, but,we should like some official assurance that similar "positions are not likely to arise again. It is idle for General Godley to state that the whole incident was due to a breach of professional etiquette on the part of a man who was serving in a dual capacity, because the outrage on a Dunedin journalist, which was practically synonymous in character, was committed l < upon a man who had no professional,as- j sociation with the camp. To speak quite frankly, it is quite immaterial whether Dannevirke is nine miles- and a half from I Oringi or only five miles, or whether seven men attended a jamboree and two did not. We have no interest in these accurate assessments. What we do know is that a newspaper man was threatened with the grossest indignities in the vilest manner by a section of the Territorials who were not at the jamboree, without any attempt on the part of those in authority to intervene. We are told, of course, the old story that young blood will have its way, and that you cannot suppress ebullitions of high spirits on the part of youth. But if this particular form of outrage constitutes " high spirits," we should imagine that the officers of the camp who cannot control it would leave it in very 'low spirits." It is a military axiom, of course, that nothing wrong can happen under orders, but the incidents at Dunedin and Oringi will sadly shake public confidence in such a supposition. Accepting the officers' own estimate, if only fifty men participated in the disturbances complained of, out of a camp of about three thousand, the question still remains to be answered: Why were these fifty allowed to disgrace the balance of their comrades without restraint or punishment? Are the officers to control the camp, or are a section of .the men to take charge ? Reduced to bald facts, if the officers in charge cannot control the men decently, we must replace them by officers who can. There must be no kidglove handling of the camps, and if discipline can only be maintained by severe punishment, then severe punishment must prevail. Another incident or two such as those that have been under discussion during the last few days is calculated to wr«ck the whole Territorial | movement, and »fc is just as well that General Godley and his staff should realise this. The General has promised a full enquiry into the circumstances, and we hope that his performance will be as complete as his promise, and that it will not be addressed to the admitted good behaviour of the many so much as to the bad behaviour of the few.

uncertain manner. We also hope the lady candidate will receive general support. There are many matters in connection with hospital and charitable aid administration where the advice of a lady would prove invaluable, and be of material assistance to the other members of the Board in arriving at a decision. Indeed, in many respects, a woman is better fitted by her intuition, knowledge and experience, to act on a hospital and charitable aid board than a mere man, providing, of course, one j gets the right sort of lady to undertake the work. There can be no doubt about the lady's qualifications for the position in this case. Mrs. Dockrill has always been foremost in every charitable and good cause in the town, and can be do pended upon to do more than her share of the necessary work. She has nevei sparod herself or her purse in helping others, and in hospital and charitable aid work she will find a congenial occupation that no lady in the district—or man either, for that matter—is better fitted by experience or inclination to undertake. We hope she will be given the opportunity, and whether she will or not depends upon the wishes of the voters to-day. The filling of the remaining position is vesy difficult where there is such an abundant selection of really good men, and we cannot presume to give any lead. Whoever is elected would, with Mr. Bellringer and Mrs. : Dockrill, make a quota which, we feel sure, w'ould most satisfactorily represent the borough on the Board.