A SMART COMPANY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 4

A SMART COMPANY

NO. 31, SENIOR CADETS SECTION COMPETITIONS LAST NIGHTS DISPLAY. Rudyard Kipling, the man of Imperial ideas and ideals, once embodied a patriotic ideal in a story. He imagined England transformed by a spirit of love of country ; not the hazy fervour that shrouds a lack of practice in patriotic speeches, but a real patriotism which led every man to prepare himself for the defence of his land, anH inspired every youth with an ambitious desire to do likewise. There was no militarism rampant, no 2abern incidents, no tyranny by soldiers.' There were no sacrifices called for or made, for when a nation has an ideal which, none other approaches, efforts after attaijunent are not sacrifices. And Kipling's Territorial England" had such an ideal. Sports were neglected unless they were of a. military character. Parades and drills were the events of the week ; manoeuvres the event of the year. New Zealand has a universal training scheme ; but the enthusiasm is not universal. Senior Cadets and Territorials have made great advances in their training ; but the" public generally knows little of this and does not appear to care. Tha.t is one reason why the Auckland Military Tournament was an excellent innovation, and why the section competitions held last night by No. 31 Company Senior Cadets (V.M.C.A.) were commendable. No. 31 Company has an admirable record for smart work and success in competitions. GOOD RECORD OF WORK. Following is the company's record : — 1912, at Cliristchurch.— 'lst physical drill; '3rd squad drill j 4th rifle exercises ; champion cup. 1913, a.t Wellington. —lst physical drill ; Ist rifle exercises ; 2nd squad drill ; 2nd route marching ; Ist bugling competition ; champion cup. , 1913, ft Manga tainoka. — Ist physical drill j Ist squad drill \ Ist rifle exercises : champion cup. ■ 1914, at Auckland.— lst physical drill ; Ist route marching ; 3rd squad drill ; sth bugling competition ; champion team. ' 'Last night it proved, in the presence of two or three Jjundred visitors, that it is not composed of one crack team and Several awkward squads, but that all sections are alike smart and enthusiastic. The scene while the competitions were in progress might have been a scene from Kipling's militaristic England. The lads looked smart, and were smart; quick in their movements, decided and correct. In company drill, under Captain Frandi, they acquitted themselves with credit, and the work of the squads in the section competitions was in some instances little short of marvellous. Each section was commanded by a boy sergeant, who rapped out his orders with great clearness and precision. To many visitors the manner in which the commands Were given must have been as surprising as the quickness of the squads in execution. Mistakes were not made by the Si%*eants, and one small non-com, particularly distinguished himself by llis presence of mind when his section showed a tendency to become flurried. The 1 competitions comprised rifle, exercises, squad drill, and physical drill. In all. the work was very creditable, but proba&ly^ the physical drill was the most perfect example of how boys can. under good commanders, become machines — intelligent, thinking machines, of course. At the close of the competitions an exhibition of squad and physical drill was given by Colour-Sergeant Petne's team, which won the championship at Mangatainoka recently. A large number of visitors watched the display with evident interest. Those present included the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) and Mrs. Luke, Mrs. Godley, Colonel E. S. Heard and Mrs. Heard. Major J. G. Hughes, D.5.0.. Major Hume, Major Corfigan. Captain Hudson, N.Z.S.C., Captain Powles (area group officer), and Captain Richardson (adjutant sth Regiment). Major Hughes and Captain Hudson judged the competitions. The officers and non-coms, of the j company were : Captain Frandi, Lieut. Nirnmo and Lieut. Ruck. Colour-Sergt. Petrie. Sergt. Sinclair (No. 1 section), Sergt. Scott (No. 2), Sergt. Thompson (No. 3), and Sergt. Griffiths (No\ 4). j Mrs. Godley, on arrival, was present- ! Ed with a bouquet. ! The Mayor, in a brief speech before the competitions commenced, extended, a welcome, to General and. Mrs. God! ley on their return to New Zealand! It was a very difficult task, he said, to establish a defence system which would secure our shores and be for the good of the Empire, and yet would not infringe the true traditions of the British people for civic liberty. That was the great task with wliich General Godley was entrusted, and the people of tho Dominion appreciated his work for the scheme. It was for the young men of New Zealand, however, to take their share of responsibility and do all in their power to uphold British traditions. Cheers for. General and .Mrs. Godley were given at the Mayor's call. The results of the competitions were : No. 1 section, 276 points (out of 500), 1 ; No. 4 section, 271 points. 2 ; No. 3 section , 248 points, 3 ; No. 2 section, 206 points, 4. No. 1 section also won tho prizo for falling-in throughout the year. The trophies, and also the cup ! won at Mangatainoka, -with a watch for tho team commander, were presented by Mrs. Godley. COMMENDED BY COLONEL HEARD. Colonel Heard, addressing the company, expressed regret that General Godley was not there to see the competitions, and to se« the company on parade and going through tho various i evolutions. He himself could only say that he was very pleased indeed. J Having seen a bit of soldiery in his time, he was in a position to judge, lie congratulated first of all the team than won the cup at Mangatainoka. "From what I saw this evening when you went through the exercises I am not at all surprised that you won. You thoroughly deserve the cup and I 'ait will be incentive to you to try V , win more. You have some cups already and will have a regular jeweller's shop before you have finished. I hope also that jt will be an incentive to other companies to try and take the cups from you. You must not be satisfied with looking back, but must look always ' to the future and try to work for the credit of your company. Take a pride in your company and do nothing that will bring discredit on it. That is esprit de corps and has done a great deal for the Army. I congratulate No. 1 section on its success to-night. As for the others, well, you cannot all win, but you can have a good try for it and you have." Section competitions, Colonel Heard continued, v»ere a. very i good institution. It was all very well for a company to have a team which went round and won prizes ; but they wanted a company that was all good, and this wa^ one. He congratulated Captain Frandi and the officers of the company. He could see that this was a company that was drilled by its own officers and non-commissioned officers, and did not require the services erf the permanent staff. That \vas what was wanted. , Ho congratulated No. 31

Company and wished it success. " remember your good name and keep it up. and you cannot do better.'' Cheers were given for Mrs. Godley. who, in her reply, expressed regret that the General could not have been there to see the work done.