MILITARY TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 6

MILITARY TRAINING.

I entirely endorse the statements contained in the letter of "Trainee" in the Auckland "Star" of the 28th inst. I am, like "Trainee," a University student and I believe that I am expressing the view of almost every University student in stating that we do not object to doing eleven days' drill a year at Ngaruawahia. The great objection which every student has is to being compelled to do shooting on Saturdays at Penrose and the still greater objection nf having to do night parades when we should be attending lectures at the University. Saturday is the only day which most students have for recreation. On week-days we usually work from nine a.m. to five p.m. and attend lectures from five p.m. to 8 p.m. Added to this there is more work in preparing lectures at home at night. Surely, sir, it is hard on the student that he should be compelled to give up Saturdays for shooting, the only other day that he has for recreation, and even be compelled to attend parades at night. This, sir, apart from the wrong principle of compulsory military training itself, is the main grievance which we students have. ANOTHER TRAINEE.