SUNDAY CAMPS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 4

SUNDAY CAMPS.

THE CANTEEN>.SYSTEM. • ' j v REMARKS BY AN AUCKLAND - OFFICER. . .' (BY ' rELEGBArn—PRESS ASSOCUTION.I ! Auckland, April 7. I , Tho question of Sunday camps and tho controversy on tho 'canteen system wero referred to by Colonel Wolfe, 0.0., in the course of conversation with a "St«r" representative this morning. ./"Personally speaking, I ses no reason why canteens should bo ■ allowed 'in Volunteer camps," said tho officer commanding, "and there, jrill., certainly bo no cantecn at tho Easter encainpmont, which commences next •week. I havo nothing in particular to say against the canteen. It-is .just, thai Ido not regard it as necessary..- If countenanced, it is my opinion the .privilege would' not be abused, but wo are better oil without it. Tho last canteen we had, was in 1898,' and tho men showed, such a small desire to partalse of tho inducements offered that tho'licensee in chargo; of tho booth lost 'money ovor it. Tho men havo not asked for a canteen, and Wo aro not going to havo it in this district." jßef erring to. tho ecclesiastical strictures passed on, the practice- followed' whilo in camp of Sunday drill, Colonel AVolfe said he cpuld quite understand that tho clergy were •naturally zealous in their desiro to maintain tho sanctity of the Sabbath, but ho thought there wero times when, they might very well devote their attention to matters moro within their own domain. Th'o officers in chargo could bo,relied upon to see that thero was no desecration-of tho Sabbath. > ' 1 '"Wo' invariably havo church parade," said tho Colonel, " and overy man in camp is compelled to attend. I think I might reasonably point out' that many are thus compelled to attend Divine service who are never seen inside a church wheh off duty. Again it is far hotter to havo men perfecting themselves in drill and discipline than to have them picnicking, boating, or following sonw other diversion. On the last Sunday spent in Easter camp, if I romomber rightly, thero was church parado in the. morning, and in the afternoon tho nie'nwere allowed to receive their friends. To- prove that thoro is an objection amongst th'o men to loafing about camp, it .is interesting to-note that beforo tho afternoon was over a numbor of infantrymen came and asked for work."