The New Force—Organised to Maintain Truly British Tradition

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 15

The New Force—Organised to Maintain Truly British Tradition

/*-! " O t!*?n youn-g men a* r&c.irr.t *oldwr» »* V sK? &r*t aim ot ?f.<» TVrritorsa? Fovc-r of Nf*" Z.fji?*R'o, hut thrre i» tar move inroM m th« prfp*r»ti«a of at> p.S\'f.spnt s«il?Uty unsS shan nier** in *t r« «.**»?* in rierrtoniaTy mwffuvrfi snJ a working knowWg* of ihc u*e of «r!Bi. TSc wry attention i* paw Jo the p'hrw'al fctne*.* of rvor mrmbfr o( *>*' th unit, *r.<3, to pn;-o;c shaS there *hal! h<> no wml: link in *ny Miction, and Jo giVr the territorial* an aaar-d interest in their woTk, no opportunity i» }o*t to organise ga«s<**». »pevti *n<3 athletic* of every dßKTiphon-

To belong to some "crack" unit, and to know that he is a member of an organisation that stand.* fov maximum efficiency and fitness. give* cveiv normal young mnn a >fn»e of pride. The membership of a territorial unit open* up entirely new field# and provide* many fre*h interests of which the youth who is no; a member remain* in ignorance. There i* a jjicat opportunity to make new friend*, to become proficient in many branche* of sport, and, above all, to learn the deeper meaning of the team spirit, all at little or no co*t. which must be an added inducement in the*e time* of stress to a young man wishing to better himself in every way. To be able to claim membership of

n military unit, particularly under the volunteer system, U sufficient to ilnmp a youth a# onn who wishes to improve hi* position and who is willing {o exert himself to gain end*. Tho fact that « tnnn ha# voluntarily become n member of a territorial unit immediately identifier hirfi as being energetic nnd something out of the ordinary, and is a powerful factor in the estimation of those who |,„ve in their hand#, to « large extent, the control of hi# future. Athletic training in the military style mm# more at producing a uniformly high standard than et turning «»«•• *' r iw< * champions horn each company and leaving the remainder in inefficient ohsnui'Vi F'»f »ba» reason. l"»m work is mo.t

At, I, * Mmffl <-ftn stnnd Hr toll W 1 *# «** ***lt*rt r^rHrtil«f **♦*«»»*« I* «!<•*♦» ♦* **<*'*« r™'" "'"V""* ♦ft A pfadaMfWlflad M tv/»ll 6S t« i-nrHHf-fif/itl# f|»* Wiftf* tn*mhfrt tr« **(■ to miliHfv «¥»*"*• «»«'»'• to«n " MV branch *f a»M*hm, M.* m*h wh« i« n-illinp fc*4 * AllAfifa «t tit'lit* tfifflMiiltt# tof his *idf. Hi* h«wM« paftoffftaw*-* »*a* ; , " t ' If (•,« HUMfif in « )iffl*i h* feftf.W* lltaf l»* M* aßeiftfN l-artllhad #faMafd. aftd, l»M « point tor hi* »M#< Taarv. r*»h*f *h*«* individual Miliars* l* »ontfM. y"» lf » " ft Athlete of e*«",epfinn«l merit mltfh* nfit ha amended in re«ehJn* fh» *fwftrUrrl. there «'* «r#*ni#ad ftther content* where outstanding nkill in required before an event m*y he won. Ai in the »eam metfthe., the point# count not for the individual, but for tha tide, and than, without any spoken baton, hut by tha forca of axampla, it team tpirit inculcated.

Territorial Training Makes a Man

The prestige which Britishers enjoy throughout the whole of the world has been built up over a kmg period of years chiefly on the sportsmanship which is an outstanding characteristic of all people of the British Empire. Not on account of isolated instances of remarkable brilliance, but because of the genera! reliable standard displayed by all members of the nation has the reputation for clean sport been won. This attribute, which is now taken for granted, has resulted from the Taluahle influence of the great public schools and universities, and from military training.

ww'k it fit an < , vtvcrri<4v Jo iho fTiSh«M*>( ( urifl it i* iKprp tV<M tww wwrk h*> a tactt appfccatHMv ITv<v*<» *"Vio Haw newr * nriwarX' «vn\j%> Ivewftwr, k««w nothing <af iHt pleasure* »h*l »w»ji tfhtnv. men xvKc «r* wily mo tsv«m Tcfio h*Tx* jc-mf-d v.-\kin?at>lv kit invaviaKly »><%, (i«<i »K»< amp proxxjp* A rsioM valoaMe and enjoyakfe Thpv<* i» « friendly rixaHy Wfwwft tV*p *-»nou» umt* in ?h<*ir rfficiencr vin |>ara«Jft, ww 1 ■of? parad** i* ?h<» MWf *sM«l of connpHilton !« aiMpivtf* The wh**l«» t*nv4* to produco

a maximum of efficiency, a* each unit strive* t-o do better than the next, the reault being that the *tandard *et xvben lecruit.* arc enrolled ha* to lie iai*ed before long. and the Territorial Force a* a body become* an a*sembly of extremely lit young men. It i* the »pint: of competition that makes for niece** in anything, and no better application can be found than in military life. Every healthy young man ha* a desire to excel at *ome branch of »poit. and this natural tendency <* given full *cope in the territorial*. Every conceivable branch of *po\t i* fo»tered, and the instructor*, *ea*oned men of long experience in handling tram*, are expeii at their work. The

efficiency learned nn the pmade ground is curried info the athletic field, and perfect organisation result* in long programme# being carried through without a hitch. Under the new system the athletic netivitie# of the territoiials will he enlarged upon, hut there will he no restriction of the sport* which have already become such popular feature# of annual camp#. for the mounted unit#. sports on horseback are organised, from tent-pegging to wrestling, while there is even greater scope for sport in the ense of infantry units. Football «nd cricket matches are played, tabloid athletic# organised, and all manner of games held in #omr> convenient field or on the bench. If there 1# water near, swimming form# part of each day'# exercise, and. if possible, races and water polo lire held.

Quita apart from sport* in camp, it in planner) In arrange for mooting* during the year, and for bf»*ing, wrestling. indoor tennis and badminton, ha l<e II arid other game* to be played at regular interval*. Everything i* being dona to cater for t>( Sport, and to encourage a healthy interest th all form* of manly exercise. fhefe |* yat another important part, of terrif*fial life, the sndal aspect. In the past it has be*n the pfa<hHf* of most units to holfl a dance at »h" <?nn*lit*int» nf theit nntiual camp, and it is planned f-nntinn* this in the future. Any mili* tafV fuftttlftn is popular, and, tr» give members still «*i6th*r interest in thaii 1 wnrk, it is likely that the activities will be extended and dances held at fither times apaft frnm the t»6n<>lusinn of <-amp*. f'.ach unit will be able tn organise srnok* <-nr«c*fM and similar functinn* fnr its own rnetnbefs, and the cheerful between t»fficers and men on these evasions. whitih Wakes fnr their tiftejtifi" tinned success, is typiVal c.f the spirit that p«rvad«» th* lvhol«» of tatrltofi*! lif#. .