AN APPEAL TO COLONEL ALLEN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14743, 23 October 1915, Page 4

AN APPEAL TO COLONEL ALLEN.

Tke Christchurch Reform journal is “sincerely sorry to see that the Hon. Colonci Allen still turns a deaf car to the cogent arguments which have been addressed to him in favour of the policy of establishing receiving camps in other centres than Wellington." The Press points out, as so many other newspapers have previously explained, that what is urgently required w a receiving camp in each of tne centres, so that when a willing recruit presents himself, ho may be taken in hand at once, instead of, as at present, being practically told to go away and think about it, with the result, in a large number of cases, that lie is not only “choked off” altogether, but that the cool treatment to which he is subjected becomes, known to his “mates" of military age, and they are deterred from offering their services. 'Now that it is proposed to take fresh drafts into the training camps everv month, the recruit would not need to be kept in the receiving camp more than a couple; of weeks on an average, but in that time he could be equipped, he could be taught the essentials of camp sanitation, and he could receive some elementary drill, so that when he went into the training camp he would have the "raw edges" taken off, and time, which is so vital, could thereby be saved. There 1 a,re plenty of Territorial officers and others with military experience who would gladly place their services at the disposal of the Department, and if this were not sufficient, some of the returned soldiers, whese health was sufficiently re-established, Would be only too willing to assist. While admitting Mr Alleu’s good qualities the Press proceeds; Candour compels us to add that he has one or two failings which are a source of regret to his best friends. His mind is not as receptive as it might be, and having once got into a groove of thought, ho finds a difficulty in getting out of it. In • the second place, loyalty to his permanent staff often leads him to leave himself too much in their hands, when he would do, much better to exercise hie own judgment, and Insist upon his own policy being carried into effect. Most unfortunately, it happens that the Defence Office, in years gone by, was not organised with a foreknowledge of the fact that in the year 1915 it would be called upon to Undergo the supreme test of an Empire war, otherwise, no doubt, some of the mediocrities it contains would have been replaced bv abler men. Colonel Allen was “let down” badly by some of his subordinates in the case of the Trentham Camp. We hope that 1 the same, mistaken sense of loyalty on his part will not place him in a false position in regard to, tln> question of securing recruits. We feel impelled again to.impress upon him, with all the emphasis at onr command, that it will be useless for the Prime Miniate* to issue inspiring appeals to the manhood of the Dominion or for recruiting missions to perambulate the country, unless the Defence Department shows a great deal more sympathy and understanding in its treatment of those who offer their services than it has displayed in the past.