MILITARY CAMPS.

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1926, Page 5

MILITARY CAMPS.

OPPOSITION OF CHURCHES Ta three Months Term. (Per Press Association.j YLCKLAN’JJ, July 20. The suggestion that the Ne w Zealand military forces should undergo a lliiec-months’ period of camp training each year instead of one week,—.i s at present, wa s strongly criticised by tile Council of Christian Congregations last evening. The Rev. Dr. H. Ranstoii presided.

Opening the discussion Rev. D. C. Herron said that the question was i eally the “stalking- horse’’ for a number of young men who had seen service i n the- Great War and who felt that something should be done to rouse public interest, m the military policy of the Dominion. It was desirable that steps should be taken to counteract the propag-anda- designed to bring about an increase in the military forces in New Zealand, to lengthen the period of service, and worst of all, t o send youths of eighteen years to camp for three months. Colonel R. H. Potter, Officer commanding the Northern Command had stated that three months’ camp would set up boys physically and morally. In the majority, of cases boys would benefit physically from the camps but in regard to morals, Mr. Herron referred to- the V.D. hospital at Tren tliam during the War. That was the effect of camp life on morals. A boy of eighteen was at the most critical stage of In's life and to send him to camp for three months was not far short of a tragedy. During the late War the military outlook had been that the men were not morally- clean. The three deadly sins of camp life were doubtful stories, g-ambling and drunkenness. In the United Kingdom during the War it was expected that men on leave would ixj immoral and steps had been taken to counteract the possibility of me n contracting disease. Ou these grounds alone the speaker condemned the proposal to establish lengthy training camps. It was finally decided that the fram ing of a resolution opposing the three months’ camps and favouring voluntary, as against . compulsory, military training be left in the hands of the executive. Interviewed to-da y Colonel Potter said that, in regard t O . the morality of the camps it was quite unfair vo compare the conditions of the War camps with those of the present day. The War camps contained men whose ages ranged from 21 to 45 years, and whose habits had been formed before they ever put on their uniforms. On the other hand th e present, day camps were held for young- fellows between the ages of IS and 21 years. As regards the V.D. hospitals at Trantham h e stated that of the men treated at the hospital fully T 5 per cent had been suffering from the- disease before they went into camp. Those haj been at once isolated.