The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1940. THE TERRITORIALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1940, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1940. THE TERRITORIALS.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrong that reeds resistance, For the future in the distance, Snd the good that tee can do.

Some Strongly-held convictions have not stood the test of Tvar, and one of them i≤ the conviction that the question whether any man should serve in defence of his country should be decided by him alone. If he did not choose to serve, no one should compel him. That this conviction was far from universal there has been splendid evidence since the war began, the evidence of the totals of voluntary enlistments for the X.Z.E.F., the home defence units, the Xavy and the Air Force, both in New Zealand and in England. But—and this should be fully realised—practically every one of these volunteers would have been of greater, more immediate use to his country had he undergone preliminary training in peace time. Not only that, but the adequacy and efficiency of the organisation for training him when he did enlist would have been greater if it had had peace-time experience. As it was, a heavy burden, not appreciated by the public, was at once saddled on the small Permanent Staff, and also on the officers and men of the peace-time Territorial Army. The knowledge and experience of the latter were limited, because of lack of opportunity. Their training had been gained mainly in fortnightly parades and "week-end and annual camps, at which the smallness of the attendances and the lack of facilities were continual handicaps. Nevertheless it should not be forgotten that in the first hours of the war many units of the Territorial Army were mobilised, and they responded promptly and well. There were no others who could be called on. Thousands of others were eagerly willing, but they had no training.

Since then there have been great changes. Three Echelons of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have been trained in the mobilisation camps for service abroad. All its members were volunteers. Officers and N.C.O.'s of the Territorial Army, for the first time in its history, have had three months' continuous training. And now it is the turn of those singfe men who for various reasons, and with exceptions, have had no recent training. The first list of names, drawn in the ballot, has been gazetted to-day. It includes the names of some who have already offered their services, unavailingly, or are already serving in home defence units. It is unfortunate that the gazetted list does not distinguish these, especially when it is remembered that strong appeals were made to them to enlist. But, this point having been mentioned, it should be realised that the balloted men generally have their opportunity in exceptionally favourable circumstances. After a year's experience, the training organisation is now much more efficient than it was, or could have been, at the beginning. Mistakes have been made, but lessons have been learned. The officers and N.C.O.'s, trained in advance, are probably as efficient as three months' experience under skilled instructors could make them; in keenness, certainly, they would not fear comparison with their more fortunate fellows in the Echelons. Th?ir improvement in physique and bearing Aucklanders have lately seen for themselves. And like conditions will produce like results in the men now called up. That they will benefit in health and in the feeling of well-being which goes with fitness is undoubted; they will also have the satisfaction of knowing that they are preparing themselves the better to perform a primary "duty of every man.