MILITARY CAMPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16549, 13 May 1914, Page 12

MILITARY CAMPS.

A CHAPLAIN’S CRITICISM. [Per Press Association,] PALMERSTON NORTH, May 12. In tho course of a severe criticism in the “Standard” of the recent Takapau camp, the Rev W. F. Boys, chaplain, says:—“ I feel that this movement needs jealously watching, that enormous expense is being thrust on tho ratepayers for little material good and for grave moral harm. 1 think no married man should bo forced to go into camp, that tho time in the camp should bo reduced and the whole burden lightened.” Mr Boys continues: “Two classes of men interested in this movement need to be closely watched by tho public. The first is tho English ‘ Tommy ’ type, the permanent man who all the time forgets that this is a citizens’ army and can cmly run by retaining the goodwill of'the lads, the man who would ‘down’ every complaint, deny any and every grievance, and who talks wildly of excluding reporters from the camp and censoring the Press. Then the voung subaltern is a great problem. 1 cannot speak too highly of some of them, but others, clothed in a little brief authority, simply goad men to rioting, and, by had example when off duty, would destroy the discipline of any camp. They are hoys them, solves. They have neither the touch of human nature nor the sense of responsibility adequate to their position. Had the noncommissioned officers, who won my admiration, behaved as some subalterns did. they would have lost their stripes at once.' The authorities are face to face with the wholo question of Sunday in camp. Whether Ihc men have a grievance or not, I have no hesitation in saying that if Sunday afternoon is used for a football match with all its attendant excitement, the men will get out of hand, and there will he trouble. If we could have transferred tho scenes and the language used at Takapau on Sunday afternoon and evening to, say, Lamhton Quay. Wellington, there are one hundred Christian parents who would sooner go to prison than have their boys forced to spend Sunday under such conditions.” “ My final criticism is that General Godley should have endured the samo hardness our boys were asked to face, should have slept in a tent at the tamp, anti not softly in tho Johnson mansion.’’