WANTED, "A GOVERNMENT."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 9

WANTED, "A GOVERNMENT."

i Sir,—l am very pleased to note that Mr. Massey (leader of the Opposition). will deliver an address in Wellington later on. Seldom.doesa Wellington audience get an opportunity of hearing either Mr. Massey or Sir J. G. Ward (Prime Minister , ) from the public platform. A straight-out presessional address by the leaders is sadly wanted locally. Naturally, Mr. Massey is anxious to touch as far inland amongst the settlers as possible, and I for one appreciate in a very decisive manner his noble, clfan, and devoted work.. I also understand Mr. Massey docs pay his own expenses. What about Mr. Fowlds and company? I suppose the Ministers of the Crown generally find a was- of getting at tho public purse to pay the cost of these little trips. Pre-sent-clay methods of the Ward Government tend to make a clean-minded man disgusted, in addition to which one feels that all privileges and freedom of speech are gradually fading- into darkness. I challenge any Minister of tho Crown to point to a single Department .where the Civil Servants are satisfied, and, more, where uneasiness-of mind does not exist. I recently heard of a young man who was unfortunate enough to accept tho Government's decision regarding a ballot foi: a certain block of land in the regions of the North Island. This poor chap put all his hnrd-earned cash "up." What result? He had to get out because of the terrible roads, iriuu, floods, swamp, etc. He lost every penny. Talk about the Government helping us. We are helping them. And there are hundreds of similar cases.

One requires great space to ventilate one's grievances in concrete form. As sure as the sun shines, sir, (he Ward Government will get a' severe shaking at (he next election. I have heard hundreds of opinions expressed, and the following, to my mind, seems to be the main contention of many arguers: "We cannot do worse by a change of Government, so why not try the Opposition?" That's how I feel over the matter. While writing, may I add one more word? Concerning the recent "Macdonnld" case: A young man recently received two years' imprisonment for stealing a few articles of clothing, but this than Macdonnld fails to account for several thousands of trust, funds—a mere detail—and goes "scot free."—l am, etc.,

DISGUSTED. KILTS OR EFFICIENCY-WHICH? Sir,—Will you permit me to express through . your columns my unspeakable disgust at the attitude ot the members of (i Company oth Regiment Wellington Infantry and their ill-advised friends re the abolition of the kilt. What is the position? It is simply this: The military authorities have decided against the company system. I cannot give all the reasons for this decision—s'pace would not allow it. Suffice it to say that under the company system uniformity in anything whether training, discipline, or promotion, was impossible. If an officer or man joined, say, the Wellington Guards, he remained in that particular company for good, and his promotion was restricted accordingly. That is to say; B Company muy have had the misfortune to lose three captains in, say, live years. This caused rapid promotion for the officers, N.C.O.'s, and men in that company. But the captain of C Company may have been in command for twenty years. Promotion there would therefore be very slow, and there you had the result—men in the first company becoming lieutenants and captains with few years' service over the heads of the men in C Company with many years' service. And after a timethese captains and lieutenants became majors and colonels, while tho men of C Company, perhaps through no fault of their own, still remained privates. The new or regimental system is going to alter all this. When a man joins in future he will join tho regiment—in this city the sth Regiment. At first some companies were quite concerned, nnd said that under this system esprit de corps would bo non est. This is absurd. The only difference Iho change nf systems will make is this: Whereas in the past a man has been proud of his particular company only, under the now system he will consider himself as a member of the sth Hegimenl, and look upon tho company to which lie may l>e posted in its true role, viz.—as being the largest unit possible to be controlled by one man. And if one should ask him what corps he belongs to, he will say "the Regiment," with emphasis on the "the," meaning, of course, tho sth Regiment. This, then, is what we are aiming at. The Artillery, Navnls, arid Wellington Guards have nil accepted the change, and aro doing their , best to help the new scheme alone.

Under the regimental system promotion is made according to seniority—all things being equal. That is lo my, il 'he captain of A Companv resigns, or is promoted, the senior lieutenant in the regiment takes his place. How can this 1» carried out efficiently unless the. companies mo clothed alike? If a Highland Regiment can be formed in Wellington, woll and good; but we must have every company in any resident clothed alike.' One speaker in the deputation said that unless the kilts were retained many men would leave. Well, all I can say is that if a man s patriotism extends only to his pants, we the sooner lie leaves thn better. By all means let us fight for our rights, but. whether we win or lose that should not alter our determination to train for tho defence of our country.

Another man said that the Highlanders were very keen. Why we are all keen— every officer, N.C.0., and man in the force is keen. But keenness in itself is not everything , . With it you must have discipline. In my opinion the greatest, qualification that a soldier can hare is obedience. Let him tight for justice, but he must nccopt the rulijig, whether for or against him. In conclusion, let me. implore tho Highlanders to be soldiers. That is to sav, "try and develop military minds. If they did that they would then realise the reason why they are being trained, and that is for war. Let them then as military men above all be obedient, and like the other companies of the sth flegiment look first to their training and discipline. Dress should come lost—it always does with men possessing military minds. The Commandant is quite busy enough without worrying as to whether a company should be put into pants or not. Personally, by their talk, I do not think some of them should wear pants. ... The new defence scheme is going to be a success, make no mistake aboul that. Every officer, N.C.0., and man in New Zealand is determined to make it a success. Highlanders—fall into line!—l am ' eto - ASCOT. DENOMINATIONAL CADET CORPS. Sir,—l am sure that the decision of Eome to establish denominational senior cadets will be received with much regret bv a large number of people, even of men like myself who nre keen on national training for defence. I would be grateful, therefore, if you would permit me.to put before your readers the following considerations:— . ... (1) Is it or is it not a function of the Church of God to organise and to drill as a parochial or diocesan organisation a part of the fighting machine of tho Dominion, of/to-train lads to become a part of that machine?" Is not this a function of the State,- and is not there a Department in existenco for that purpose? (2) Though the clergy hope through denominational corps to keep .in touch with the lads after they leave Sunday Schooleven if. the corps to somo extent enables them to do so—is not there grave danger through secularising the Church, and by lowering the ideal in the minds of the lads, that the movement may defeat its own objects? Does it not seem like an anti-climax to tho general mission which 60 strongly insisted upon tho ' spiritual nature and ideals of the Church ? (3) Is it advisable thus to accentuate "our unhappy divisions." In the defence of our country should not we be able to work shoulder to shoulder independent of (lenominationalism ?, And would it not be far better so to do?

(4) Do the members of the Church think it advisable to have a parochial or diocesan organisation which is not under the control of the Church? We may have our cadets, but the Defence Department will bo the controlling authority. Which in the training of the lads will como first, the ideals of the clergy or those of the Department? What if in the changes of time the controlling power bo not in sympathy with the Church, or a strong partisan of some particular denomination? Have these questions and all they involve been thought out? (5) Have wo not in the boy scout organisation a body which can, and will if properly supported, impart a high tone to kh'p; bad.sk movement?

Such a departure as.the proposed denominational cadets is so novel in its nature, so contrary to the traditions of the Church, so questionable as to its ultimate benefits, that it should be discussed by and receive the sanction of the Church in synod or some other representative assembly. As wo are afforded no such means of expressing our opinion on the subject, I desire, sir, to make this protest through your columns.—l am, etc., A CHURCHMAN.