KEEN TERRITORIALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 14

KEEN TERRITORIALS.

| SUCCESS OF NEW SYSTEM. GOOD YEAR'S WORK. EFFECT OF BIG PARADE. The splendid parade in the Auckland Domain on King's Birthday must have been most gratifying to those responsible for reviving this spectacle after a lapse of three years, and it 'will undoubtedly give a fillip to a movement tliat can be made the medium for such excellent work among the rising generation. The man who has done volunteer training is always the better for it. physically and mentally, and he has always learned the value of esprit de corps—a virtue too often missing from civic life in these strenuous times.

1 Another good result of the parade would be to show the officers and men their own progress. Some biased people can see no good in the voluntary system and 6igli for the old system of compulsory training (which is gone beyond recall), and there are others who consider any form of military training immoral. The fine showing of the various units was a sufficient answer to the critics of the voluntary system, and the type and bearing of the young men and cadets on parade would have converted the most rabid opponent' of military training merely because it is military training. The various units parading separately have little opportunity of visualising the progress of the movement as a whole, and the spectacle on the Domain, not forgetting the commendation it drew from all sides among competent critics, came most opportunely. Significant Numbers. To those who prophesied that the voluntary system would never work it is only necessary to point out that in one year it has leached 60 per cent of the establishment, and even its most ardent admirers could not wish for more. At the end of last month there were 0175 other ranks in the forces, and of that number just 2000 are in the Northern Command, about half being in city and suburbs and the remainder in the rest of the province. These figures are most encouraging, aspecially when the calibre of the men is realised. Those interested in fostering the voluntary system know that it will take time to build up the new force to establishment, but they are fully justified in pointing to present results with satisfaction. It should be remembered that the old Volunteer Force was the outcomc of years of patient and steady effort, and that in 1910, when it was replaced by compulsory training, there was a total strength of 13,000 officers and men, ■whereas the present Territorial Force in one year has already reached half the strength of the old system. Another fact that must be taken, into consideration is that in many of . the units of the old volunteer force the strength was largely on paper, but that is not the case to-day. Excellent Start.

But excellent as the progress so far has been, the number of men in training is still far below that required to ensure efficiency and safety. Perhaps the most assuring feature about the new force is the keenness of the men and the good will among employers. With euch a keen nucleus the future looks particularly bright. Another good augury is the splendid showing of the secondary school cadets on parade last Friday. The efficiency of the lads was most remarkable. Even old military men have been astonished at the smart guards of honour these lads can mount, and at the annual inspection they have proved themselves as efficient as the best-trained territorial units. As there are roughly 3400 cadets in Auckland city area the Territorial Force may safely look to them for accessions as they pass out of the schools, and there is no better material obtainable. An important part of the present system is the interest of the public, and the King's Birthday parade undoubtedly made many friends for the forces, and still more would be made if the public realised that the present system is deliberately designed to make young men better citizens.