TERRITORIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 8

TERRITORIAL NOTES.

■ (By RIFLEMAN.) A meeting of tho executive committee of tho military tournament (to bo 'held In Auckland at Christmas time) will ho held at the Drill Hall on Friday evening at 7.30 p.m. A full attendance is requested, , because proofs of the tournament programme will lie submitted for inspection and amendI in tut, If necessary, , I There has been a very big demand for i tournament programmes and for information regarding the various events. The programme will he distributed just as soon > as the printer can be hustled Into tnrniug them out. In the meantime Intending com- ' pernors may safely assume that nil the ' features of last year's tournament will he I retained, while several new Items, Indicated In .these i.jitcs Ins: week, will also be ! Introduced. : Inquiries sent to the honorary secretary - of the tournament. Captain 11. <J. Nutsforil, i -N.Z.S.C, Mc fence Oillcc, Auckland, will .ho promptly nnd folly answered. This statement is made without authority, hut ! also without apology. No one who know* I Captain Nutsforil has tbo slightest uilsglv- ; lug as to the efficiency wltn which the administrative work la connection with the 1 tournament will be conducted. The leopard docs not change his spots; the comparison ; Is not to lie tnken in a zoological sense. , Elaboration Is unnecessary. 1 ATocher rctfson why the executive meetI Ing to-morrow night will be important I* I that the question of the allocation of points , for the District Cup will have to be settled. ' This valuable trophy (It stands for district ' efficiency) Is at present held by Canterbury, . and It goes to the military district wini ntng the greatest number of points In certain of the tnuronuicnt events decided upon • by tho executive committee for the time • being. Three polnls are counted for a l first, two for a second, ami one for a third place. This deponent docs not wish to butt Into ' the counsels of a carnhle executive .comI mltlte, hut it ins occurred to him that . something In (ho nature of. a regimental cup, for competition nmoug the different . units In the Auckland military district, on ' the snmo lines as tho Dominion compel!----i tlou for the District Cup, would arouse what hns been called the regimental -spirit among the territorials and senior cadets of ; this province, it Is suggested, that If some practical sympathiser with the training lii'ircmcnt were to offer a trophy for com- , petition of the kind Indicated, he would bo doing a very red] service to the cause. i In, connection with the accommodation of visiting territorials and senior cadets to the tournament. It has already been explained thati camp accommodation and stabling will be provided free during the period of the tournament. Arrangements will alto be mn'le whereby those living ~ under canvas will he mile to procure meals for themselves, and forago for their horses. In camp, at ;he lowest possible rates. Llciiteunnt Beck will he In charge of tho quartcrmnttcr'n department. An announce ment hns been made regarding the travelling concessions by rail and steamer to bonafl.de competitors. The Garrison Artillery Dlrlslon Is short of non-conimlsslaiicd officers. A class of Instruction, will he -hold, commencing early In September, und N.C.O.'s nnd men desirous of qualifying for promotion will tie required to attend on one orenlng n week, In addition to (heir company parade night. Officers commanding companies are required to forward to division headquarters, before tho 20th Inst., the names of those N.C.O.'s mid men who desire to nttcud the class. It Is further requested that O.C.s should make on effort to Induce .--nimble men to aitcud the Held cookery course la October next. A piece of information which comes appropriately enough at this season of bargain sales is worth mure than the passing attention of members of the Garrison Artillery companies. In thu division storeroom tit the Drill Shed there urc quite a number of useful articles which may be purchased from thu divisional sergeant-major at a low price. Among other things, there are tempting bargains to be obtained In assorted articles of crockery and assorted enamel. wnre. Many men, cveu ulnglc men, In this land of week-enders, frequently huvo to make purchnKcs of this kind. There Is one line (we naturally drop Into tho language of tho bargain sales) which Is very tempting. The sergeant-major bus fur sale nt 1/ each a number of those exceedingly well-mnde wcb-glrdles, which are no longer any use to tho division now that the blue artillery uniform has been aoollehcd. Tbey I would keep white pants, or short pauls, or any pauts at nil, la their proper place very nicely, "I have seen the recruit—pcrhapa a mlserablc-looklitg specimen. Iv six mouths you wouldn't know hlui, with the Improvement the good food, physical training, and good enrc had made In him. . . 1 have seen these young soldiers march thirty miles a day carrying their rifles nnd accoutrements. And iiint Is not n had performance."—Colonel Heard, nt tho Wellington Veterans' annual dinner, t>p*aklng of youug soldlers In the British Army. A few Interesting remarks on mllltary Iralnlng were made by the Minister for Dcfcuce (tbo Hon. James Allen) at tho Veterans' dinner in Wellington. The Minister raid that, after some of the speeches, he wondered If he was a member of a ponce society. "I wonder," he continued, still referring to the "peace" people, "If they think they have any right to live In New Zenlnnd to-dny, I would like to know what answer Ihcy would give! I'ou (the veterans) undertook marches. . . . That was discipline. Arc you any the worse from It? Are you more manly to-day for ■helping to win this country? ) know what answer you will give! What of the Territorials? They aro your sons. They have your blood In their veins. . . We hear It said that the British soldier Is no good. (Voices: "Rotl") You were once British soldiers! And 1 say that the British soldiers wo have coming out here arc splendid men. I -wlph to thank them for the hard work they have done. I feel that wo have not dono enough for them, lint this burden of preparing (or defence is a heavy one. and we cannot materially help as we would wish to; but we value the sacrifice tbsy have made in coming here to help us, ami I hope that when they return to England they will do so with the knowlrdge that they bare done something, not only for us, hut for the Umpire, too." (Applause.) The average attendance at camps taken over the whole of New Zealand for the j»Bt year was 83.78. Of the balance 0.20 per cent obtained leave from camp owing to sickness or other causes, and the balance absented themselves without "by your leave." This Is a very satisfactory record. The Wellington district, with 92.10 per cent, shows the best average camp attendance. Otago Is second, with 55.72: Auckland shows 81.50; nnd Canterbury, where tho apostles of peace are the enemies of law and order, shows only 73.20 per cent. A young man of good physique, released from Fort Jcrvols,' Rlpa Island, nfler baling served seven days' detention for failure to comply with the regulations of the Defence Act, when asked by a reporter how be felt after his detention, replied: "All right," nnd added that -he would not mind going back ngnla. He said he was not a passive re,later, und his detention woo due to his failure to tnkc the oath. He was not opposed to compulsory military trainIng, hut. as tho result of a difference between himself and the authorities, lie had failed to join a corps, In conclusion, he said be was well satisfied with thi> milliner In which he was treated when on the Island, LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN. (By I'IONEER.) The decision of Hie Territorial Xon-Com-missioned Officers' Club to admit aon-couiK. of the Legion of Frontlerpinct, or Ic-glou-nr)cs who aare recently held non-com. rank In volunteer or Territorial forces is very keenly npprcclnlcd by the members of the Legion, The following nre some r.pprop.-latc extract* from Ibo 'Umpire rates Issued by London headquarter.; of the Legion last year:— The Legion Is a self-governing voluntary body, organised with n view to Denial utilised on emergency for the defence of the British Empire. Men aro eligible for active membership who arc British subjects of European descent, and have travelled or lived out of the British Dies, or served la the Army, Navy, or Merchant Bcrvlcc. Service In Territorial or volunteer forces In the Rrltlsh lilcs Is no qualification, A man Is not 'inaliried who Is able or la liable to nerve lv tbo Territorial or oilier forces of the British Empire,

lActlvo members most Join through a command or sub-unit. (Note: The lionniiary or tbe Auckland Command Is tho same as the Auckland Territorial Military District.) A man riving where there Is no command or sub-unit may loin at licaihinartcrs illreet, and bo unattnehcd temporarily. Honorary members may Join through a command i or sub-unit or bo unattached. ' ' Each command or snb-unit may make Its 1 own regulations for tho procedure by which ' member.--, are eloetcd. A member fJin.ll lie > automatically suspended from momhorhlilp a -tvhost! subscription Is twelvo months in * arrcar. The administrative unit of tho Legion la n coumra'nd of two or more squadrons under "" a coinmaiidniit. (Nolo: It is hoprd that lhe " Auckland Command will eventually coin- * prise about twenty squadrons.) I Overseas comma mis and mib-unlt* mny lie » .organised subject to local circumstances nnd " conditions. The Executive Coancil mny - approve Uio formation of councils anywhere f niiiiiiiic of England on the lines of tne 1 I-J.C. Such councils- ifliail exercise locally 5 all Hie function of the E.C. supreme control, liowever, resting with the (London) E.C. Each couiinaud 1 and sub-unit may r have Its own rules, which must be con- , slstont with the rules end' standing orders I of tbo Lesion, nnd subject to tho approval i of tbe (heachiuartcrs) Executive Council. I The work of the Legion shall be designed i not to Interfere with tbe civilian occupa- - tlon of members. Subject to tbe rules and ; standing orders, the regulations of tho Ter- ; rltorlals nnd otber forces of the British 1 Empire shall be followed in the work, i order, and discipline of the Legion, lb ore , Is no age limit, but candidates who nrb eligible for the Army, Navy, special reserve, or Territorial forces are strongly iiijviacil to Join tbesc forces rather Ulan " sock for enrolment In tbe Legion, which Is : composed of racrnbers either unable or , Ineligible to undertake military service In ,• H.M. Forces for tho defence of the Emplrc. Only British-born subjects are eligible ' for appointment ns ofllcc-s of the l.ogion. 1 "TJie address of tlie secretaiy of tho Auck- . Irind Command of tho Legion of Frontiers- , men Is 20-22, Swnnsoii Street, -Auckland, ' who will receive all enrolment forms mid ! subscriptions from persons living within tbe Command District. i _-—-.