CANCELLATION OF CAMPS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17985, 2 April 1930, Page 7

CANCELLATION OF CAMPS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I am surprised at the attitude taken up by some of your correspondents regarding the proposed cancellation of military camps. To me it seems a retrograde step, and one that weakens the prestige of the authorities. The need for preparedness for war was never more apparent than it is to-day; what is happening at the Naval Conference shows that the military spirit still prevails among some of the Continental nations, and indicates that Britain and her dependencies must be prepared for any emergency. ,To send raw recruits into action is nothing less than slaughter, and therefore the training at present given in the camps is of incalculable value. While hoping that world peace will always be maintained, one cannot shut one’s eyes to facts, and the biggest fact one knows is that there is little change in human nature and that a settlement of differences by combat will always be sought, although the weapons used will differ at different periods in history. Apart altogether from the bigger question, there is no doubt that the period in camp is good' for the growing youth; he develops physically, and —what is perhaps more desirable in these days when we hear so much of the difficulty of controlling young people—he gets a little salutary discipline. The money spent on camps is money well spent, and has incalculable results in making modern youth more manly. Probably most of the support for the cancellation of the camps comes from those who do not realise the responsibilities of citizenship, or who are trying to dodge drill for themselves or their friends.—l am, etc., PATRIOTIC.