THE CADETS' CAMP.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12378, 18 December 1905, Page 6

THE CADETS' CAMP.

TJie development of the School Cadet movement is one of the matters upon ■which the Government are honestly entitled to great credit, and the Royal congratulations .which. Mr Seddon received for his work in this direction have been endorsed by the public. We are bound to cay, however, that the Latest incident in connection wffch. the cadets is not calculated to encourage them. For nearly 'twelve months past there has been talk of the lads going into camp for the purpose of carrying an work there which is impossible in school play grounds, especially shooting practice and skirmishing. It mas at first j>roposed to hold these camps at Easter, but subsequently it was agreed, certainly so J»r cc the Christchurch battalions were concerned, tlhat the week before Christmas would be more suitable. All doubt as to whether the camps would really bo held dieappeared when the sum of £1000 towa>rds defraying the cost was placed upon the Supplemen/tairy Estimates, and verted by itihe House. For the second time parents were invited to give their written consent to their boys going into camp, and an undertaking to pay 3s 6d per boy ac part payment of the cost. It seems to have been practically agreed that the local cadets should go into camp to-day, after the ceremony in the Park. But though, every effort was made by their officers to obtain some definite information on the subject, the Department maintained a stolid eilenoe. It is, of course, possible that these letters formed part of the "trifling arrears of. departmental work," which are eaid to have engaged the Premier's attention at the close, of his electioneering campaign. In any case, complete ignorance as to the Department's intentions existed among the local cadet officers, and to the intense disappointment of the lads themselves all idea of the camp taking place, at all events just how, has been abandoned. Mr Seddon's offer to let the boys have the use of the drillshed, if no better arrangement could be arrived at, seems to have been made under a misapprehension as to what was actually wanted. The Mayor's telegram referred to the expected week's camp; tne Premier appears to have understood that the difficulty only referred to housing the boys engaged in to-day's ceremony. That, at least,- is the only construction one can put upon the offer. As the vote for proper camps was passed by Parliament, eomo explanation is duo from the Premier as to why it lias not been expended in the desired direction. At present it looks ac if the matter had been thoroughly muddled , by the Education Department.