MILITARY TRAINING AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1543, 17 October 1867, Page 3

MILITARY TRAINING AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

lathe House of Representatives, on September 25, Mr H___*kinson moved the following resolution—" That .in the opinion of this House it is desirable that boys in all schools throughout the colony which are njaintained either wholly or in part by public funds should where practicable be trained to military drill, and that the , Government be requested to take such j steps as to them may seem best to insure the same;" and said that he need not say much to commend it, and he hoped that the Government would move in the matter. Nothing, to his "-hind, could tend more to render volunteering popular in the colony than giving boys the advantage of early training in military exercises. They would, he believed, thoroughly enter into and appreciate it, and would feeilthe, good effects of it all their "lives. Besides they would acquire the drill with far greater ease as boys than they could,ever hope to do as men. Then it Beemed to him that, putting the Maori war out of the question, there might be a time when the colony •would be called on to defend itself; Slid he thought tbat the training of the youth of the country in military exercises would tend to make the people efficient when required to protect themselves, against foreign aggression. Mr Wool) seconded the motion.

-Mr Stajfobd thought that the Bbuse..was indebted to the hon. aferuber for having called attention to -Ma subject. He looked hopefully on say effort in; this direction, for the utility of military training must be Emitted. He believed that military fexsrcises had a very great attraction for youths in schools, and in one or Wo quarters they- had voluntarily "Garollec. themselves as cadet corps, *it_t very useful results, and the feeling was spreading. These exercises Would operate beneficially their minds as well as on their bodies, for . they, would be improved by the sense of obedience and reverence for a superior, and the discipline which Would be inculcated, and they would t® longer walk in the shambling, Slouching, style which !'characterized fte, colonial youth of both sexes. Although the motion was a general Oae, there would be some difficulty in giving effect to it, for the Government ha&.no supervision over any public schools except those for Natives ; ©-her schools were maintained by the Provincial Councils, or from local *&ting, and were under the control of Ideal boards. Therefore, all the Government could do was to ascertain whether the governing bodies of these schools receiving support from public funds would concur in some ins truewon and training being given at certain times to the pupils, and with such concurrence the Government would endeavour to carry out the term of the Solution.

■'.'Mr- C. O'Neill said he felt con*gced that military drill would be of *«c utmost' consequence to boys. He «H|w boys at home who were bent *ad round shouldered, but who, after getting three months' drill, walked

straight and .erect, with chest well forward; in fact, showing strong evidence of improved strength and health. He felt much pleasure in supporting the motion of the hon. member for Eiverton.

Major Heajpht, V.C., suggested that where trust lands were given a condition should be inserted in the trust. Major Atkinson said that the resolution appeared to direct the Government to train the Maoris to arms, as Maori schools were the only ones supported directly by the House. Mr Burns said that there would be little difficulty in the matter so far as the Provincial Council of Otago was concerned. He had the honour of moving a similar resolution some years ago, but there was some hitch with the Government, as they complained of the amount asked for. He was rather amused at the remarks of the Colonial Secretary; but perhaps he was not aware that there was an institution where females were drilled, and also were taught tbe manual, and went through the sword exercise. He thought that was a matter which it would be well for the Government to turn their attention to. If such a course were not taken when boys were at school it would be difficult to get them to take any interest in it afterwards. It was well worth a visit to see the cadets at the High School, Dunedin, go through their drill. He hoped the Government would see their way to giving every inducement towards carrying out the resolution before the House.

Mr BuNmr thought it was desirable to carry out the resolution, but he was afraid that when they came to put it in practice they would find a great many difficulties in the way. In the first place it appeared to be a matter for Provincial Councils, and if so, they would have to pay instructors, unless the House was prepared to vote money for drill-instructors throughout the colony. Instructors would be required in eyery district to visit schools to instruct tbe youths, and as the schools were much scattered, it would take a considerable sum of money to keep up a staff of instructors for that purpose. He did not think the Provincial Councils would be in favour of incurring such an outlay for that particular purpose. It would be attended with considerable expense if carried out throughout the colony, which would have to be the ease, as it would be of no use to have drill instructors merely for large schools, although such a thing would be highly desirable ; but in the present state of the finances of the country he was. afraid it was one of those desirable things which would have to fall to the ground. Mr T. Macfaelaxe regarded the carrying out of such a resolution of some importance to the colony. He thought the money expended in that way would effect the saving of a large amount of money afterwards. As far as the expense was concerned, he did not think it would be difficult to carry out tbe matter. There were in the yarious provinces a large number of discharged soldiers, who for a small addition to their pension would be prepared to discharge the duty of j instructing the youths attending these schools... The expense should devolve on the General Government, and not on the Provincial Governments. As to the teachers of schools who derived their support chiefly from the Provincial Government,, it should be made a condition to getting that pecuniary assistance that they should be qualified to teach the scholars military drill, and a small addition might be voted to their salaries for discharging this duty. The plan could be carried out at very little additional expense to the country, and the effect upon the colony would be such as to warrant the Government in giving some countenance and assistance in that direction. Mr Hanejnson, in reply, said he was glad to see that the resolution had been so favourably received, and hoped that something would be speedily done in the matter. A circular from the Government to the heads of the various schools might be of some weight towards having the object of the resolution carried out. Motion agreed to.