Brig. Campbell Finds Improvements In Army

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 26

Brig. Campbell Finds Improvements In Army

The Army was getting its share of the labour force “cake,” Brigadier T. G. Campbell, the retiring commander of the Southern Military District, said in an interview. “We are if you take into consideration the shortage of men in the freezing and building industries at this time,” he said. Brigadier Campbell believes that the basic cause of the Army’s manpower shortage is the general resentment, in a welfare state, of anything that savours of discipline. “There is, of course, a feeling among the public in this country of why do we need to worry so much about defence? After all, they say. New Zealand had acquitted itself nobly in two world wars and in Korea. We also have an uninformed, but vociferous minority who if you mention the Army to them still think of the soldier in terms of a bell tent sleeping on straw, eating biscuits and bully three times a day, and sharpening bayonets once a week.”

When these sort of attitudes were prevalent it meant that the population was not making any real endeavour to focus the attention of their sons on to the Army, he said. Big Improvement

Brigadier Campbell said there was no doubt but that conditions in the Army had improved immeasurably in recent years. “But it is not common knowledge yet. It is difficult to get people to sit down and compare what the Army has to offer with what is available in industry.” Although there was an apparent lack of recruits seek-

ing careers in ' the military. Brigadier Campbell said he retained a tremendous faith in the nation’s youth. “It has to be borne in mind that there is an absence, perhaps because of our remoteness, of a continuing military tradition such as is to be found in Britain. But in the event of a national emergency I am sure our young people would rise to the occasion just as their predecessors did in the past.” New Zealand’s peace-time Regular Army was better trained and better equipped than any peace-time Army he could remember, he said. Brigadier Campbell said he was in favour of the greatest possible co-operation with the military forces of Australia. Progress was being made each year and this was to be encouraged. A strong liaison was also being developed with the United States, which was also very encouraging. He believed there was a far greater measure of understanding between the allies today than existed in 1939.

Brigadier Campbell will retire after 24 years in the New Zealand Army on December 20.

In his retirement he hopes to start life again in industry or commerce.

However, Brigadier Campbell will not be completely out of the Army. He is still the honorary colonel of the Ist Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Regiment, now in Malaysia. Brigadier W. R. K. Morrison, his successor as commander of the Southern Military District, will begin some duties of his new post this week.