SIR B. FREYBERG AT DUNTROON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 7

SIR B. FREYBERG AT DUNTROON

CADETS INSPECTED AND ADDRESSED “ NON-RIGID DISCIPLINE ” RECOMMENDED CANBERRA, December 15. The Governor-General of New Zealand (Sir Bernard Freyberg) inspected cadets at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, at the special invitation of the Governor-General of Australia (Mr W. J. McKell). After presenting diplomas to 43 graduates, including five from New Zealand, Sir Bernard Freyberg addressed an assembly of cadets, relatives, and friends. He said there should be strong co-operation between Australia and New Zealand. “We are passing through very difficult times,” he said. “Compared with the great Powers, Australia and New Zealand are only drops in the bucket, and they must draw together net only in trade and transport, but also in defence. “The graduates of this college are brought up under strict discipline, which is quite right for the regular army. When some of you start on your careers you may be training a citizen or volunteer army, which is a different thing altogether,” he said. He told the graduates that future soldiers must be led by example, not by guards and pickets. “The old days have gone now,” he said. “You future officers must control your men by common sense, not by the dignity of your rank. In World war I, although I was an officer, I had to march with the men and carry my pack. To-day even a private expects to be driven everywhere. He must not be burdened by too rigid discipline. Make your men respect you and they will obey. The New Zealand Army has a non-rigid discipline where men and officers mix as equals, and we are a better fighting force because of it.” He emphasised that it was an officer’s duty to keep his men fit. The only way to do this was by marching —the test being a march of 40 miles in 24 hours with very few men falling out.

The five New Zealand cadets who graduated at Duntroon yesterdav were Corporal J. R. Clarke (Lower * Hutt), Lance-Corporal H. B. Honnor (New Plymouth), Colour-Sergeant R. K. Treacher (Epsom, 1 Auckland), Underofficer J Brooke (Wellington), and Sergeant R. R. Harding (Napier).