THE TERRITORIALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 6

THE TERRITORIALS.

QUESTION OF DAYLIGHT PARADES.

PROTEST AGAINST IMPRISONMENT. AUCKLAND, May 3. A letter protesting against the imprisonment of those who have refused to comply with the requirements of the Defence Act was addressed to the Minister of Defence by the president of the Auckland Branch of the International Arbitration and Peace Association and by the president of the Anti-Militarist Council. A reply has been received, in which the Minister say* he can only repeat his former statement that, as Minister of Defence, it is his duty to see that the law as it stands at present is carried out. "You are under a misapprehension," .the letter continues, " if you understood me to say that no more imprisonment would take place. You have since waited upon the Prime Minister in regard to this subject, and I can .only say that I am in agreement with the statements he expressed."

EFFECT ON FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND, May 3; Up to the present no difficulty has been anticipated by th P Rugby football authorities in regard to Territorial parades inter-

fering with football during the coming season. Mr Langsford (secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union) informed a Star representative that he was surprised that the Wellington officials were making a fuss. The Auckland Union had always found the Defence Department ready to meet it in every possible way. The department had always shown the greatest consideration for all branches of sport. He understood that the four parades that were to take place this month would only occupy two days, as the intention was to commence a parade at 10 o'clock and leave off about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening, thus merging two parades into one. In this way matters would be greatly simplified. 'As far as football players were concerned, it was Tecoghised that it was the duty of lads who wer e called upon to attend the necessary number of parades. The union had no desire to prevent them from doing that. Some of the football players who are also Territorials have intimated their intention of declining to parade while the football season is on. If they adopt this course it will necessitate the department, through the police, taking action, and a few fines will probably have a salutary effect. INVERCARGIL.L, Mav 3. The committee of the Southland Rugby Union to-night passed a resolution in appreciation of the Defence Act, and recognising the fair and just manner in which the defence authorities were endeavouring to carry out their none too light task. Members were of opinion that the attention of Rugbyites at parades on a few occasions during the season would not seriously interfere with the carrying through of the local Rugby fixtures. HONORARY MEMBERS. Mr J. F. M. Fraser, honorary secretary of the Executive Committee of the Honorary Members Territorials, received a telegram from General' Godley on the 6th, which read:—" Your letters of April 16 and 29 have been seen by both his Excellency the Governor and the Minister, and both cordially agree with what you have done. Will write fully on returning to Wellington late this week/' About 20 or 30 guests attended the camp at Milton on the 6th, including the Mayor of Milton and members of the Executive of the Honorary Members Territorials from Dunedin. The Mayor briefly addressed the gathering, warmly supporting the honorary members scheme, and all the visitors submitted their names as honorary member:?.

WELLINGTON, May 9. Messrs Perry (Rugby Union), H. M'Keowen (Football Association), and C. N. Cathie (Hockey Association) waited on the Commandant of the New Zea.land Forces to-day to bring under his notice certain matters relating to the use of Newtown Park for military parades, and the calling of a certain number of daylight parades for this month. The deputation made it clear that the organisations which they represented were not opposed to military training; on the contrary, they supported the scheme, and recognised that defence had to come first and all forms of sport second. They expi-.-w.sed the opinion, however, that it would be a- very good thing if the Territorial system and various forms of sport could be run side by side, so to speak. The scheme affected every grade of football, 75 to 80 per cent, of the players beine liable for service. In the case of Idaylight parades, therefore, it would almost be neceseaW to postpone the fixtures, and. they thought it might be possible where daylight parades were being called to give notice to the various associations some little time ahead. This the General promised to do in future. Daylight parades would in all probability be notified a considerable time ahead. The deputation also suggested that it might be possible in future to call as many daylight parades as far as pocsible in the " dead season''—that is to sav, the last fortnight in Sepember, the first fortnight in October, the last fortnight in March, and the first forthight fin April. -General Godley explained that the basic principle of the Territorial system was that the training should be continuous. Lieut.-colonel Campbell, who was present during the interview, stated that he was in sympathy with the eports

bodies, and personally he saw no reason why their suggestions should not be given effect to. He thought it would be possible to. hold all the daylight parades without, interfering with cricket, football, or any other form of sport. The interview, it is understood, was deemed highly satisfactory to all the parties concerned. DRINKING AT CAMPS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Arising out of the allegations made regarding drunkenness at Territorial camps the officers of the Ghristchurch Prohibition League have addressed the following letter to the Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister r of Defence): —" We are enclosing a copy of a letter addressed to General Godley in which certain facts are stated concerning drinking in connection with Territorial camps. We have no reason to believe that the condition of affairs prevailing at the camps specified was any worse than that obtaining at other camps; indeed,, knowing the officers, we have every reason to believe that they were extremely solicitous for the welfare of those under them. The fact of the matter is that the camps should not have been placed in the proximity of hotels. When the Defence Bill was going through the House your predecessor in office as Defence Minister promised definitely in reply to Mr Newman that no camp would be established within five miles of an hotel. We think you will agree with us that apart altogether from the moral aspect—from a military and disciplinary standpoint—this is necessary and desirable. In addition to this we wish to urge strongly this aspect of the question: that the camps are compulsory and consist largely of mere boys, that parents are compelled to send their sons for military training", and that under these conditions they have a right to expect that the utmost care will be taken to preserve from contamination their sons, who are at an age at which few -boys have learned fixed principles. In the letter to General Godley instances are given of objectionable conduet on the part of Territorials at the Templeton and Rangiora camps, due to drinking." The letter concludes : —" With regard to the camps with which we are more closely associated we have brought no charges of extensive drunkenness, and we have reoognised that on your part and on that of some of the commanding officers there has been an earnest effort to stop all drinking; but our point is that so long as the sites of camps are chosen with disregard to the promise made by the late Minister of Defence, that no camps would be held in close proximity to licensed houses, it is impossible to prevent a certain amount of drinking. Now, as the Territorial camps do not consist of volunteers but of young lads, whose parents are compelled by the law to send their sons for military training, we think we make no extreme* demand when we urge that the promise referred to should be rigidly fulfilled."

At the annual training camp of the Fourteenth Regiment (South Otajro Rifles), now being held at Milton, Mr G. W. "W. B. Hughes, general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, of this city, is in charge of the Regimental Institute, which is being conducted by the Y.M.C.A. The" institute provides a reading and writing tent (with material) and a recreation tent (with games, piano, and music), so that the social side of the camp is not being neglected. As the night sets in early, and the evenings are now long, concerts will ho organised and held. Boxing gloves and single-sticks are provided for those who feel that thev require more exercise than the physical drill and the daily parades.