MILITARY TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 32, 7 February 1910, Page 8

MILITARY TRAINING.

<By Teleirraph.— Own Corespondent.)

-CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

A statement bearing upon the new compulsory military service system, so far as if affects the work cf" technical colleges' students who attend lectures at night, was made by Dr. Hight, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Christ church Technical College, at the meeting on Friday night. The Chairman said that the Defence Act of last year required that all youths between the ages of 14 and IS should, in addition to six whole days and twelve half-days, attend for 2i night drills during the" year. If these,night drills had to be put in toy students of colleges on one night in each week for 24 weeks, it was obvious that it would have a deterring influence on all but the most earnest, for as a ruie students found that three nights at' the Technical College, which was about the average attendance at present, made enoμgh demand on their free lime, it was to be hoped that the regulations is-ould make special arrangements for students attending evening classes, as, for example, to allow them to make up all their 'drills during vacations. It would seeni that as students were in general the "pick of the youth, they might" as well have been excused evening drills altogether, as they would be likely to profit as much by sLx whole days and 12 halfday drills as others would by the whole course. He proposed that the Defence Department should be asked, when making their regulations under the Defence Act, 1909, to give special consideration tt> the case of students attending evening technical classes, so as to allow them to complete the necessary drills at such times as should not interfere with their attendance at classes. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Allison, who said the Government would no doubt give effect ta-the suggestion made. The motion was theji put" and carried. It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Education Department.