PLAIN SPEAKING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1915, Page 5

PLAIN SPEAKING.

VALUABLE ADDRESS TO VOLUNTEERS. ; * By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. A plain, pointed, and soldierly addTes* was delivered to the eighth reinforceinents members by Colonel J. E. Hume' the Officer Command the District when they paraded at the Drill Halt' "We are not saying 'good-bye' to-day-, this is only 'au revoir,' for like thv other contingents you will have the Op> portunity of visiting Auckland agaii" before you go away," he said. "I to say one or two plain words. First anil foremost, I want you to thoroughly: realise that from the time- you step: out of this hall you are soldiers of the' King. You have to come up to the high--est ideals of the Brit'oh army, aSJ I am perfectly sure that you wA live up to them. Do not forget that the basis of all efficiency is discipline. Ours is no irksome discipline, but a pleasing* dieciplne, taught from a soldering point of view. Your comrades who have gone be* fore you have set you a high standard of efficiency and gallantry; it is your duty to uphold it. And now I want to bring under your notice tho temptation" which soldiers, more than ever at this time, are brought into contact with. Your friends and others desire to intend the hand of hospitality to the men in khaki, and it is for you to decide whether their hospitality will do a good or a bad turn to the soldier. I am not a temperance lecturer, and do not epeak with any feeling of 'wowserism,' but tho very little trouble we liave had here tea been due to the cursed system of "shout. ing.' When you are in the King's uniform, try and put tho drink to one side. In nine cases out of ten the man who seeks to do a good turn an thisway does a harmful one." j''