23RD REINFORCEMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9622, 30 March 1917, Page 6

23RD REINFORCEMENTS

ADDRESS BY COLONEL GIBBON. Yesterday afternoon Colonel C. M. Gibbon, I-G.S., Chief of the General Staff, addressed the 23rd Reinforcements, who are in camp at Trentfiam, ■in the necessity of discipline in an army, in order that the best results hiay be obtained from the men who have undergone a course of training. Colonel Gibbon said that discipline was probably tho most essential element that went to make a good soldier. Tho men had been subject to discipline in camp, and it was more necessary that they should take it outside with them. Oh sea voyages troops wore apt to become- somewhat lax in this respect on account of the restricted space and the monotony j, but when they reached a base those who had been responsible for their training had no fear fori them. Their comrades Lad already ’learnt how necessary discipline was in a soldier, and would keep them up to it by example. At ports of call men were often led t«. forget discipline by others who did not realise its importance. At some port* of call, where, in the past, it had been usual to give the men leave, this had now been curtailed, owing to some men misbehaving themselves, consequently others had to suffer. He exhorted them to show by their good behavioui wherever they might be, in camp oi out, that they intended to uphold th* honour of New Zealand, so that it could not bo said that New Zealanders took part in any disturbance or mis behoved in any way whatever. At some period in their lives, no dou bi, they would travel as soldiers, and should that day .arrive he desired to impress upon them not to emulate tho conduct of some New Zealanders who visited a way port en route to then destination. Tho man in question were the first soldiers who had called ot thht particular port, and they did not behave themselves as well as the authorities would have liked them to have done. Troops from other places arrived subsequently, and suffered in several ways in consequence. “The actions of five or six men, ’ said Colonel Gibbon, “could bring the name of New Zealand into disrepute, which the good behaviour of five or six hundred men may not he able totally to efface. Therefore it is necessary that tho majority should see that a few soldiers do not bring discredit on them all.” They had good reason to,be proud of New Zealand whoso soldiers had set a high standard tor themselves, and made a great name tor the Dominion. Ho believed in tho men making life as pleasant as was conducive to the interests of a B°9'l soldier. Drill and exercise should be indulged in daily in order to keep fit and during their hours of recreation he suggested that boxing and other manly sports would not be devoid of pleasure. The draft was a good one, and up to full strength, but some drafts had lost men from various causes, principally those that were avoidable. Detention accounted for a few, and he trusted that the 23rds would not suffer from a similar cause.