MILITARY TRAINING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 49, Issue 14874, 9 March 1923, Page 4

MILITARY TRAINING.

That there is need for placing the military service of the Dominion on a more sensiblo footing than exists today must be admitted by every intelligent person. At the present time the service is largely impotent. If men are

to be trained as soldiers it is necessary that they should receive instruction which will bring this about in a prompt and effective manner. Complaint has been > repeatedly made that our territorials and cadets are not efficient. This, we fear, is chiefly due to the poor class of officer deputed to give them instruction. A great many of the officers in charge of cadets and territorials lack the necessary enthusiasm for their work. Before officers are allowed to take charge of cadets or territorials they should be compelled to pass the most searching examination as to their ability to instruct their prospective charges and temperament as well as knowledge should be considered. Something more is required than possession of the desire to punish a youth for having a button undone or for twitching an eyelid on parade. This may be looked upon as the enforcement of discipline but discipline of this nature is apt to develop into a fetish which only the foolish and ignoiant will tolerate. It is an established fact that the finest soldiers in the Great War were the Australians and they were the most undisciplined troops when not in the trenches. There are some excellent officers in the service in New Zealand, and their ability is reflected in the smartness of the Territorials placed in their charge. These officers use common sense and never attempt the petty domineering plan of punishment for trivial breaches. The Territorial service is -unpopular, and this is cliieflv due to th c quality of the officers and the methods of instruction they employ. More of the spirit of comradeship is required.