THE MILITARY CAMPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 6

THE MILITARY CAMPS.

Although we have nothing in Christ* ‘ church approaching the condition of affair* that existed at the Newtown Park Camp in Wellington, our military camps have not been as satisfactory as we could: have 1 desired. Among the Volunteer's the trouble seems to have arisen through, the arrival of more men than were expected-,; but we understand that the energetic efforts of „ those in charge prevented any very serious * developments, and no doubt ty-day the principal causes for complaint ’will be removed. In the Cadets’ quarters there is lesa reason for congratulation. An inspection yesterday showed that the mess-rooms were in a terrible state of disorder and dirt, partly because the boys themselves were not under control and partly because the' number of men employed was nob large en'ough to cope with the - situation. This trouble, we be--lieve, was remedied last might, but it is obvious that greater care will have to be exercised during -the remainder of the, yisit. There were-other indications of a want of method and order on the habits of the boys, and the state of the “ barracks " showed that some of the" officers in charge’ were not making very earnest efforts to - teach the Cadets useful lessons in neatness. There are other unpleasant features in bon. nection with the great military gathering. The streets of Christchurch last? night afforded ample evidence that insobriety, at least, is not’, ‘ counted a cardinal - sin in the fn-ith of the, average volunteer, and we have; seen nothing more deplorably than the spectacle of half-a-dozen Cadets, mere boys,'imitating ' or mimicking the disorderly conduct of' adult Volunteers. These arc matters - not beyond; the cognisance of the authorities, who must realise 1 that such d,splays axe. not calculated- to raise the profession of arms in the public estimation.: