THE MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14547, 26 December 1912, Page 6

THE MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

Tho Military Tournament, which is to begin to-day and finish on Saturday, has a special claim on the patronage of tho people of Canterbury. Tho tournament was begun about fivo years ago by a North Island corps fortunate in the possession of an enthusiastic commander. This was the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, and as a result of the enthusiasm of Captains Peach and Palmer, and especially of tho organising powers *of Staff-Sergeant-Major Dovoy, tho fixture grew till it assumed national importance in a surprisingly short time. In fact, it grew too big for one corps to handle, and other corps were called in to assist, but it still remained primarily a bantling of its originnl projectors. To the tourneys on the Manawatu Show Grounds there came men from all over the North Island, from Australia, and representatives of his Maiesty's Navy, until tho town was like a garrison town. But tho support which was hoped from tho South Island did not come. Then the change in the defence system was inaugurated, and tho Manawatu Mounted Rifles ceased to exist as a corps, becoming merged in a regiment of the establishment, and the Defence Department, noting the stimulus which tho tournament had given to tho various North Island corps, took the whole thing over and decided that it should bo held in alternate years in each island. To-day's fixturo on tho Cantorbury Show Ground is tho result. There has been a good entry, and excellent arrangements have made, but it will require very strong enthusiasm and very good arrangements to eclipse those of the original promoters and to enable the South Island to go one better than tho North, which in this year's tournament has shown much more enthusiasm and given more support than hitherto the South Island has shown

or given when t-he tournament was held in tho North, and when it was frequently' commented, that if Australian corps could come all tho way over, South Island corps should have been able to go up in numbers. There is in to-day's events competition of North Island against South, ami Commonwealth against both, which should lend to the various events a special interest from tho competitive side, but there is also the obligation of honour on the South Island to make of tho Higgest military tournament in Australasia in its first year, co striking a success that the reproach which has been mado against tho South in connection with it cannot longer hold. This is the moro desirable sinco the value of tho, tournament to the defenco system is undoubted. All over the country corps which contemplate entering teams begin their practices months before. There is first tho dosire of individual members of the corps to bo sufficiently smart in their.- military exercises to catch the eye of tho selector. Then there are the practices and drills of the team and its emergencies, leavening tho whole corps and proving an example to other corps. In this way tho influenco extends to many thousands of men and boys. And finally thero is tho influence of the tournament itself, in corps being pitted against corps to the testing of their efficiency, and in the spectacle of that efficiency presented to tho public. To give the gathering its greatest influence, all Territorials and Cadets who can do co, and then the general public, should attend and show that in the matter of public appreciation the people of Canterbury are not going to bo behind those of the North Island who came long distances to swell the attendances at Palmerston North. The preparations have involved a great deal of heavy work on all concerned, and that work and its value to the Dominion should bo recognised by the people for whoso defence our whole Territorial I system is designed.