TAKAPAU CAMP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11975, 12 May 1914, Page 4

TAKAPAU CAMP.

A CHAPLAIN'S CEITICISM.

EEV. F. W. BOYS SPEAKS OUT.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.] PALMEESTON N. Tuesday.

In the course of a severe criticism in tlu , . "Standard" on the recent Takapau camp Rev. F. W. Boys, chaplain, says:—"'Two classes of men interested in this movement need to be closely watchod. by the public first, the ' E iglish Tommy , type of permanent man who all the time forgets this is a citizen army and can only be run by retaining the good will of the lads. The man who w0 ,,,1 'down' every complaint and deny that any ever had a grievance; who yearns to increase the severity of the system and talks widely of excluding reporters from the camp, and censuring the Press. Then the young subaltern is a great problem. 1 cannot speak too highly of some of them, but others clothed in a little brief authority simply goad the mon to mutiny and by bad examples when off duty, would destroy the discipline of any camp. Mere boys themselves, they have neither a knowledge of human nature nor a sense of responsibility adequate to their position. Had the non-com, officers, who won my admiration, behaved as some subalterns lohaved, they would have lost their stripes at once.

'' The authorities are face to face with the whole question of Sunday :n camp. Whether the men have a grievance or not I have no hesitation in s.'-ying that if Sunday afternoon :>s vsed for football matches, with all th« attendant excitement, the men will get out of hand and there will be trouble. I am sure if I could have transferro/1 the sceies and language used at Tak.ipfiii- on Sunday afternoon and eveniag, say to Lambton Quay, Wellington, there are hundreds cf Chiistian parents who would sooner go to prison than ].f.ve their boye forced to spend a Sunday under such conditions. I feel thr.t this movement needs jealously wat.'.bii;£ and that eno.mous expense is being thrust; upon ratepayers for lit';le material good and for grave moral Larni. I think that no married man slould be forced to go into camp; avit the time in camp should be ■lid the whole burden lightened.

"My final criticism is that General Godley should I-"-« endured the same hardness our boys were asked to fa<:e, should Lave slept in a tent at the camp and not softly in the Johnson mansion."