Thames Star FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1938. TERRITORIAL RECRUITING.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 18 February 1938, Page 2

Thames Star

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1938. TERRITORIAL RECRUITING.

"With mane* towards none; with charity for all; with firmnoM In tha right, at God gives us to sat tha right."—Lincoln.

It must come as something of a shock to many people to realise that the total military strength of the area between Coromandel and Te Aroha is approximately 200 men. These figures, whicih appeared in yesterday's "Star," should cause real concern, because it can be taken for granted that other districts in the Dominion are probably in a similar plight as regards active Territorial volunteering. In the report yesterday of the activities of the local branch of the New Zealand Territorial Association, a noticeable feature was the stress placed upon inducing the right type of youth to volunteer. The military officer who addressed fche Association- made it clear that it was better to have fewer recruits, provided they were of the right type, than many of the ■wrong type. What, then, is fche right type of youth for Territorial work? The ans Aver is that he needs to be keen, decent, of good intelligence and certainly of good character. The reverse type is unenthusiastic, slack in interest, slovenly in di'ess, and careless of military ihonour.

Thames is fortunate that a number of its leading citizens have roused themselves to encoui'age Territorial recruiting locally. These men feel that the next step is to enthuso the public generally with the importance of military training for the modem young man. To this end, a publicity campaign is being planned ■which, in due time, will be released in the community. The Association also plans to assist in the selection of a further nine young men to bring fibe local infantry, platoon up to full strength. It proposes to cooperate with the military officers and instructors in an endeavour tojmiko the Thames platoon a.,'Vraok" company of men, who will be proud to •wear the uniform and display smartness and efficiency. New uniforms are due for issue shortly, and with the new enthusiasm being shown by the citizens, the combination will be irresistible, and Thames 'will see again smart bodies of soldierly men marching down her streets as did an older generation in the days of the Naval Brigade and other military bodies when the Volunteers were part and parcel of the life of the town.

Joining the Territorials to-day is to be something to be proud of because the class of men chosen will be really the (lower of the community. In addition to this high honour, they will receive pay for weekend parades and camps, and they Avill have the active interest of members of the Territorial Association behind them, encouraging them, and, in ;i sense, caring for them. Territorials will feel that people of their own town are really proud of them and are as keen as they should be to sec Thames turn out a "crack" platoon which will act as a model for further extension of the Territorial system. It is to be hoped that with the active encouragement of an interested band of citizens, the Territorial forces in this district will make big strides. Apart from the thealthy, physical training, it cannot be too strongly urged that. Territorial work develops cbaraotev, courage, interest in life, a zest, and keenness to carry oneself smartly — in short, it rounds out an individual into a real MAN.