MILITARY TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 18

MILITARY TRAINING

ADDRESS AT TRAVEL CLUB WOMEN'S PART IN RECRUITING The valuable part that women can play in organising social life for men in military camps was spoken of yesterday by Captain H. J. O. G. Gilmore in an address to members of the Travel Club. The Territorial Association was formed when compulsory military service ceased in New Zealand, its aim being to stimulate recruiting by making the life more attractive, Captain Gilmore said. It had been found that wherever branches of the association had been formed the number of recruits had doubled and trebled. This was duo in great part to the fact that club rooms had been established where the volunteers could find enjoj'ment among themselves. Wise parents whose children were leaving school helped to prepare them for the pitfalls in after life, Captain Gilmore continued. Preparedness was one of man's most valuable possessions, and it was important that each man should be prepared to defend himself and his family, but he could not do so without training. Military training in itself was beneficial, as it was the best form of physical training for health and strength. The women of the country could do much in inculcating in the minds of the young men the necessity for being prepared. Books for the soldiers in camp were collected at the meeting. The president, Mrs. Victor Macky, who presided, appealed to members of tbe club to do all that was in their power to help to make camp life pleasant for the recruits.

During the morning songs were sung by Mrs. Nigel White, accompanied on the piano by Miss Carr, and a short talk on Scandinavia was given by Miss April Hargreaves, of Christcliurch. Among the guests from overseas and other parts of the Dominion were:—Mrs. W. Stewart (Tonga), Mrs. E. G. Brickell (Dunedin). Mrs. A. E. Broberg (Wellington), Mrs. Philip Gibbs (Kotorua). Miss May Davidson (Edinburgh), Miss Hilda Levy (San Francisco), Miss Dorothy Edmondson, Colonel J. W. Clark (Sydney). Floral sprays were presented to Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Brickell. Mrs. White, Mrs. Gibbs, Miss Hargreaves. Miss Levy, Miss Carr, and Miss Edmondson.