SENIOR CADETS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 11

SENIOR CADETS.

WORK OF OFFICERS. SHOULD THEY BE REMUNERATED? Cadet officers, and especially those connected with secondary school work, came in for commendation at the Education Conference at Wellington on Wednesday from Mr Morrell (Otago), who believes that these officers should receive remuneration from the Defence Department for their practically compulsory services as officers. The text of Mr Morrell's remarks was tiie following motion:—"That the Conference—(a) welcomes the introduction of military training for the boys of secondary schools; and (b) expresses its confident iiope that in the management of cadet corps the Defence JJepartment will continue to work in harmony with the school authorities.'' Speaking to the motion (says the "New Zealand Times"), Mr -Morrell said he thought that tlie_adv:*.ntages of compulsory military training need hardly be stressed. Physically and mentally, as teaching boys habits and discipline and lessons of service, this training was a very desirable and praiseworthy thing. ' It was good that tho boys should learn that if they received benefits from the State the State should receive something in return. Touching briefly on general aspects of the new scheme, Mr Morrell expressed tbe opinion that it was not desirable that the military authorities should, iii tbe way of training, be allowed to interfere in and disarrange the school routine. There should be no clashing of authority. It was very necessary that the school principal should be consulted. Every principal, he was certain, would heartily and genuinely co-operate to such an end. But there must bo a Conference of the military anc * *' ie . teaching authorities in order that the process should have a smooth passage. The minimum age of the senior cadets, the speaker added, was in his opinion somewhat too low. On reading through the Defence regulations he lighted on a passage which stated that any boy who had attained the age of fourteen on any day of tho year was eligible for the senior cadet ranks. This meant that, boys of thirteen years could bo roped in. The new regulations would tell rather hardly on those secondary school teachers who were cadet officers. They comprised the only adult class of the community practically comnelled to act as officers. This service should be recognised. These cadet officers were forced to devote a great deal of their time to the cadets, outside school hours —such ns drill, class-firin__, etc. —which meant in numerous cases every Saturday morning on duty. Their work should be recognised by tho Defence Department, and, personally, he thought that nominal remuneration of at least £10 per' annum should be paid to officers who qualified for substantive commission.

The chairman (Mr Firth) advocated a more defined- physical drill in preference to some of the military exercises demanded by the new regulations. When a foundation had been laid physically, the military drill could well follow. He offered_ to the mover of the motion propositions embodying this idea.

Mr Morrell's suggestion that these might be made corollary motions was agreed to.

Mr _R. M. Laing (Christchurch) strenuously opposed the motion. There was far too much militarism .in our schools and far too little of the gospel of peace. The advantages of the military training claimed by its advocates were not, he said, obvious- to him. He considered. they had far better substitutes on hand which would achieve the results aimed at. Systematisation of physical exercises and sanies would do more'for the boys' general welfare than mere military exercises. , The spirit culcated by military training was not the higher spirit. _ There should, be more instruction in tho principle of arbitration and less said about our battles. ' "I beg to differ from the previous speaker in toto," declared the Rev. J. L. Dove (Wanganui). , There was a principle of duty and loyalty to country and King advocated in the motion that appealed to him. He suggested that an advisory committee of secondary school masters should be formed to assist tho Department in framing the cadet tegulations, both senior and junior.

Mr Bevan-Brown (Christchurch) said that nothing had given him greater pleasure than the action of the Government in instituting this system of universal training. It indicated a groat sense of patriotism. If the country was worth living in it was worth defending. *** The notion was divided, both portions being carried.

Mr Firth moved :—"That this conference urges upon the Minister of Defence the optional substitution of systeniatised physical exercises, together with simple military movements, in place of military drill, for boys under 14 years-of age; and that the shooting practices required of senior cadets are much too complicated. This was carried without discussion.