TRAINING OF OFFICERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13646, 1 February 1910, Page 4

TRAINING OF OFFICERS.

PROPOSET> CHAIR IN MILITARY SCTEXCE.

A GENEROUS OFFER.

Speaking at tho meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury Colloge yesterday, tho chairman (Mr G: W. Russell) said the country had emb»rk€d on a large defence scheme, part of which referred to the training of officers. The matter had been before tho University Senate, and a Military brought down a very lengthy 'reports The idea of the committee vas that the course should extend over two yeara, ajid that a professorship, the funds for which it -was thought would be found br tho Government, should be .established at each centre. He thought the general consensus of opinion throughout New Zealand ivculd probably be that in a email country like New Zealand it would be tin unnecessary expenditure' of public money to establish four chairs in military science. A fetf | <!ays ago he was waited upon by loeut.- i Colonel H. Heaton lthodes and Professor iScott, who hud a long ■interview with him, and d-uring that interview Colonel Ilhcdes had authorised hxin to i>tate that if the Government were proi pared to establish a chftir et Can-ter- ! bury College, and if that were to be I the "only chair for the training in military tactics in New Zealand, ho would ba , Vcpared to offer a subsidy of i<2oo par* annum towards the upkeep of the chair, the offer to extend over at least three years end possibly longer. On receipt of the offer he had telegraphed to the Premier: "Considering establishing chair military science at Canterbury College. Can you kindly indicate what finp-ncinl assistance*. Government will render regarding salary of j-'rofessor, and cquinrnejit of lecture room?" Later on the same day he had Bent another telegram to the Premier advising "him that Canterbury Colieeo I 'n-as already givintj instruction at the j Engineering School in military, electriI cal, engineering, and other technical j work, also in surveying, road and : bridge construction, railway oon- ! struction, and all drrartmente of all j theoretical and practical electrical and general engineering. He had received i a reply from Sir Joseph .Ward as fol- ! lows:—"1 noto jir.sition, and tho representations that you convey will be fully considered when tho matter comes up." ' His feeling was that the Board might i vt > r y we j[ adopt a somewhat generous I attitude in dealing with the matter, fer it w.*;s unnecessary to emphasise tlie importance to the Board of securing tho establishment at Canterbury Collece of the chair of military Ecier.eo I for New Zealand. He would move j ''that the Board thank Lieut.-Coloncl I lthodes for his offer, and that €he I rbairmnn be authorised to inform the I Minister of Defence that this Board is [ prepared to consider favourably any I ;>roi»sah Cabinet may make for tho ! e-tiblishing of a chair or lectureship in I imlitnrv science at Canterbury Col- ! !c-o." * i Mr J. C. Adnms, w]io seconded the \ motion, said the time had como when ; military tactics should form a portion lof the decree work at the university ; coi!o.-jes. It would bo unwise to have ! i-.mi-o than one chair for the Dominion, : and the instruction in the subject ■ should be confined to cue college only. I There was already a large officers' ! irr-inim; corps "at Canterbury College, : end a «-vecial committee 'had been ap- : pointed to supervise tlie work of that ; ror.is, • The motion was carried.