THE CLAUDELANDS CAMP

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 4962, 26 March 1912, Page 2

THE CLAUDELANDS CAMP

The 16th Regiment were engaged in battalion drill yesterday morning, and in the afternoon marched through Hamilton, headed by a band. The lads presented a fine soldierly appearance, and when halted in Victoria street showed a steadiness that could not he looked for. Today the camp wilf be struck and the companies return to their respective headquarters.

Last evening the officers of the regiment entertained several of the citizens, including Mr J. A. Young, M.P., Mayor of Hamilton, at dinner. Before leaving Mr Auid, on behalf of the parents of the lads in camp and the scores of lads who will yearly enter the ranks, extended hearty thanks to Major Gumming and his officers for the kindly and sympathetic interest they had taken in the men. Not only General God ley, but every officer in the camp bad set an example worthy of the men to follow, the influence of whicli would yield a rich harvest of good throughout the corning year, lie had not been an enthusiast for military training, hut after a close and almost daily inspection of the camp lie was delighted and enthusiastic for the great good it, means for the future of New Zealand. Tho originator of the military training movement had seen well ahead, and today we are realising the great good it means for our boys in the re-modelling and setting up of a higher standard in life and citizenship. there had been some reluctance felt to the call to go into camp, but now the same lads were sorry the camp was over, as'they had said they would glacljy stay for three months under the same conditions. The officers had a great power for good in their hands in directing and guiding the lads into right lines at a critical period of their development. Perfection could not he looked for in a week, but good work had been clone. Hamilton had not done all it could have in co-speratmg in tho work of tho office! s, but he felt that in the future a greater interest would be shown in the regiment, and he hoped that the district would subscribe and present the regiment with a set of colours. Mr J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, said that ho wished to thank Major Gumming and his staff for the consideration they had shown the public, affording tnem every opportunity to visit and inspect the camp. Ho had been a frequent visitor, and had moved in and about tho men a good deal, and had kept both his oycfl and ears open with a view to noting the new scheme of military training in operation. Ho desired to congratulate Major Cuming,and his,regimental staff for the splendid result which they had achieved in the short period of a week. On tho first day there were quite n number of men to enter the camp in a frame of mind that was u simmer of resentment at having to submit themselves to discipino and training. That was all changed in u few days. With tact, patience and skill, the officers had shaped all tho separate sections of men constituting tho regiment into one well constructed wcll-workng machine, which was a credit not only to those responsible for the transformation hut to the men constituting the rank and file. It was really a testimony to the ability and quick intelligence of the young New Zealander to learn and adapt himself to circumstances. While in camp many of the men had formed associations 011 which they will look back in the years lo come with pride. There was that day a line spirit of interest in the work among all sections of the ranks, and lie congratulated the officers 011 having accomplished so much in so short a time. They all deserved the thanks and goodwill of the people and the Government of New Zealand. In conclusion, Mr j Young thanked the Officer Commanding and his stall' for the kindness j and courtesy they had shown him on I all occasions when he visited the | camp, and expressed the wish that they may he as equally favoured in | their future work as they had been I during their first camp. Major Gumming expressed his | gratification at the many kindnesses lie had received from the Rross, which had done much to popularise | tho work they were carrying on. ! Messrs Gwynne and McArthur re- : plied. Later a camp fire concert : was hold, when some good talent was unearthed, and the hoys of tho 16th Regiment will long remember their last night in their first camp.