VALUE OF TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19959, 30 May 1928, Page 12

VALUE OF TRAINING.

MILITARY AND SPORTS WORK. DEVELOPING CITIZENSHIP. PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY. "By the irony of fate, some of our fellow-citizens are holding a meeting in the Town Hall to-night with the object of raising opposition to, and ultimately doing away with, the whole military training system," said Colonel; H. It. Potter, Commandant of the Northern Command, at a social function in the Lewis Eady Concert Hall last evening, when trophies were presented to successful competitors at the meetings of the Auckland Military Sports Association and the Inter-House Girls' Sports Association. "I am very sorry to find these persons have taken up such an attitude," Colonel Potter said. "If they only realised what it means to train the young manhood of this country to become citizens in the true sense of the word, I am sure they would not then say as much as they are saying now. We are not training our cadets and territorials for war; we are instructing them to shoulder the responsibilities of citizenship as it applies to every phase of community life. Thus, if trouble should arise, we will be able to call upon our young manhood to take its proper place in the Dominion. Value of Sports Training.

"The Military Sports Association is doing a tremendous amount of good. Over 120,000 of the flower of the manhood of New Zealand passed through my hands at Trentham during the war. I watched them como into camp, and I can assure you they were not the same lads when they went away.' We built them up after three months' training, and I can see every one now stopping out in front of me.

"There is no large camp here, but the Military Sports Association has taken its place in ensuring the physical and mental training of the younger generation. Germany, our late enemy, has now realised how much dependence Britain places on sports in the development of the nation, and last year she donated- £50,000 to different organisations to train the young in the same things in which this association is interested, namely, athletics, swimming, boxing and physical training. If that great nation can realise the vital interest which attaches to the training of its vciung manhood, then how much more should we realise the same necessity. I am more than pleased with the work being done in this city.- and we have to thank the officers of the association, and especially the civilian members, for the great gap they are filling. Total of 11,000 Trainees.

"If the public but realised the' amount of good that is being done, I am sure it would come forward and assist not only with its attendance at the various sports gatherings, but also monetarily. We receive no subsidy whatever from the Government and no assistance from the Defence Department, except through the energetic co-operatibn of the officers themselves. There are about 6000 cadets and about 5000 territorials in the Northern Command, which means we have a total of about 11.000 trainees, to all of whom are extended the benefits of the association."

Colonel Potter expressed his gratification at the large attendance of members of the Inter-House Girls' Sports Association and thanked the association for the valuable support it had given during the year. Mr. T. Clark, representing the Auckland Drapers and Mercers' Association, expressed appreciation of the work of Lieutenant T. P. Laffev. who had been responsible for the instruction of the inter-house girls and the success which bad attended their displays. behalf of the business houses from which the lyirls were drawn be presented Lieutenant Laffev with a silver entree dish, inscribed. Mr. Clark also thanked the milltarv authorities for the assistance given. Prizes in connection with the cadets and inter-bouse girls were presented bv Colonel Potter, territorial trophies being distributed bv Lieutenant-Colonel T- HDawson. officer commanding the talion, Auckland "Regiment. The totM amount expended on prizes was £ b ■ Punper was served during the eve.nmg and numerous musical items were given. OPPOSITION TO COMPULSION. A PETITION PROPOSED. The abolition of compulsory training was advocated at a meeting held in the Town Hall last evening under the auspices of the Auckland women s branch of the New Zealand Labour Partv. Mrs. A. M. Cassie presided over an "attendance of about 130. ine speakers included Mrs. Lee-Cowie, Mrs. J A. Lee. Miss E. Cato, the Rev. G. Jackson, Dr. J. P. Hastings, Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P.i and Mr. H. G. R. . Mason, M.P. A resolution expressing the "P ,nl °" that the best interests of New Zealand would be served by the repeal of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act, and urging that a petition to that effect bo circulated and forwarded to Parliament, was carried unanimously.