The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. OUR CADETS.

Auckland Star, Issue XXXVI, 21 October 1905, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1905. OUR CADETS.

■ For the cause that lackg astUtmnee, For the wrong that nttii rctittanoa, For the future in And the pood that tee oan io.

One of the most interesting features jof yesterday's Trafalgar celebration was the muster of the public school cadets. Xo one of the thousands who saw them (march throug-h the city could fail to be impressed by their soldierly bearing and j the good order and discipline they maintained. At the same time, they were I manifestly interested themselves in the ceremonies which marked the day, and -they entered thoroughly into the spirit 'of the celebration. The proceedings so far as the cadets were concerned were | entirely successful, and reflected great credit upon the organising committee. |At the same time tbe strength of the cadet corps and the high degree of effiI ciency that they have generally attained provided a welcome surprise to the many people who believe that military train- ' ing even of a rudimentary kind is, from the public standpoint, a very useful form lof education. All these boys accustomed from childhood to some form of miliI tary discipline, to the necessity for obeying orders and ■ the advantages oi j combined action, should be able to give 'valuable assistance in solving for us the I problem of self-defence if ever tbe ne(cessity for it Bhould arise. But even lif tbey never join volunteer corps, or if (as we all fervently hope) the question 'of military defence should continue for lever to be of purely theoretical interest Ito us, no one who saw the cadets yesIterdaj can doubt that they w_l grow (up with a stronger sense of discipline \ and greater respect fot rightful authoriIty, and so will become more useful and more efficient citizens —by reason of the training that they received in. drill and elementary tactics at our public schools.

The system which among other things made yesterday's display possible is, we venture to assert, one oi the most interesting and useful experiments that the present Government has i made in connection with our public school education. The cadet corps j throughout the colony are under the control of the Education Department, i and the system is administered by a properly qualified military officer. The enrolment of cadets and the local man-1 agement of the system is entrusted to the Education Boards in the different districts, and these bodies have the power of accepting or rejecting offers for the formation of cadet corps. The candidates for admission to the corps j must be over twelve years of age, or I must have reached a certain minimum standard of height, and muat be physically fit. The Education Boards are authorised to set aside not less than one hour per week for military drill. Government pays half a crown a year capitation for each cadet who attends a specified number of parades, and supplies the model rifles and miniature rifles required. Every effort is thus made by | the Department to produce on the minds j of the cadets the impression that the j work of the corps is part of the school routine, and an essential feature of the education system. Considering the necessity for making some provision for the military defence of the country in the future, we consider that the exertions of the Education Department in this j direction are thoroughly justifiable. But' the results of the system may be even more advantageous to the individual' than to the community at large. Discipline is only a habit, and! respect for legitimate authority once enforced by military training may extend itself through every relation and condition of life. The advantages of method and order whkh are inculcated by military training must necessarily produce a beneficial effect upon the rather casual* and desultory colonial youth. Further, we are glad to observe that cadets are instructed to show fitting respect for their military duties by observing certain regulations as to dress, and by "refraining from loitering about the streets after parade. This in itself is a proof that the Department regards the moral effects of military discipline as not the least important of the objects to be aY tamed by public school drill. We understand that the institution of school ■ cadet corps within the last two years has made a striking difference in the I discipline maintained in many of our schools during working hours, and certainly a system which not only renders I our boys abler and readier for military service, but improves their bearing, regulates their habits, and Increases thensense of personal dignity and self-res-pect, is well worthy of the support of every man and woman in the cornmu-