CITIZEN FORCES.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16817, 8 June 1926, Page 6

CITIZEN FORCES.

NEED OF SYMPATHY. GENERAL MACKAY'S PLEA. "I want to put in a special plea on behalf of our younger generation, and especially that body of young men which belongs to the Citizen Forces," said Brigadier-General Iven Maekay, in his Empire address, at Sydney. "In these days of reaction after the war, when it is the fashion to speak of military matters in whispers only, wo arc apt to give the cold shoulder to our Citizen Forces, and yet I say that these young men collectively arc as fine a body as any which Australia ever sent from her shores in the A.I.F. They are our own friends, our own kinsmen, and they deserve better support at our hands. They have a service to perform which is laid upon them by the Government of our land. It is a diflicult service, and . in many ways an irksome service, and we should offer these young citizens all the help and encouragement of which we are capable.

I know that some people hold that military camps are full of pitfalls for the young and inexperienced," continued the general, "and to some extent Ibis is true; but only in the sense that the whole world is full of wickedness and traps for the unwary. To those who think thus 1 would say that if a wise man in the midst of goodness can learn what to do he can in the midst of evil choose what not lo do. "I would ask those religious and political bodies which are displeased with even the very mild military training of our Citizen Forces to reconsider their opposition, and to think of the value of the training in physical development and lessons of duty, apart from all possible preparation for war. If they arc anxious to benefit the nation by rooting out evil there are many more obvious subjects for their attention than our Citizen Forces.

"Some people think we are aiming to make all our boys soldiers," said Major-General Bruclie, when referring to General Mackay's address. "What we are trying lo do for our boys is to make them better citizens, physically, mentally and morally. Aro those ideals not worth supporting?"