CADET CAMP AT BURNHAM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16309, 5 September 1918, Page 6

CADET CAMP AT BURNHAM.

INSPECTION BY LIEDT.-OOLONEL

SLEEIIAN

The Cadet refresher camp at Burnham was visited and inspected yesterday by Lieut.-Colonel J. L. Sleeman, 1.G.5., "Director of Military Training. Colonel R. A. Chaffey, O.C. Canterbury Kstrict, was also present. Colonel Sleeman, in an address to the assembled troops, said that they were in camp for one purpose—to learn their duty as future defenders of their country, and with that incentive to stimulate

them lie felt assured that it required 110 words of his to encourage them to work hard. A special course of instruction for the officers and n.c.o.'s of the secondary schools was an innovation, brought about 011 his recommendation because of the difficulties experienced in attending the courses open to all in the Territorial and Cadet forces, during school terms. In addition, the schools were in a position to offer a more standardised and more progrt6sive training than units outside: as a consequence they must be expected to attain a higher standard of efficiency. Whether they did so or not depended: oil their patriotism and military enthusiasm equally as much as on the efforts of tho Defence Department or their officers. Many of the units outside tho secondary schools were really excellent, particularly in tho Canterbury district, in which the great valuo of the Cadet movement was better understood than anywhere else in the Dominion. Some were, in fact, against too many Cadet units in the secondary schools. This ought not to be, for there was no comparison between the difficulties experienced in gaming discipline and efficiency m units composed of youths enjoyK pl ? a f ures of « hu °l I'fe and those who toiled from morn to night at varirp™K?Stnes J ne ,esson all should I "i? 11 that a 50,1001 r > -ffi 6 .k° be judged bv its 'Ss n 6 r m, t ncy oqually as much* a s by at . s P°rt. It was, indeed, a Iwhnll L n, l the school at) SM 1 . and. especially at a Zl S/ n u a ! 7 training stood for so S, W +£ s l lou] d be a far prouder thing ? +1, )ost afc nil litary work. Ho Siic e tfaf+i eSt ?- e ?j Ure ' the refore, in stating that tho shield presented by Mr th« of for the most efficient Cadet unit in the secondary schools had been won by tho Christ's College Cadets. tho !nif ar 1 > 17 ; 18 - He congratulated -j j 0 ?, lts . fino standard, and ho considered that it was only fair to state that it had won it by a very few points, no fewer than three other schools closely competing for the honour. Comf™ on » essential to complote military officiency, and it was hoped that th£f Wn Wo , a ' (1 I J** made wrest thte challenge shield from its present holders during tho current year. All possessing a knowledge of a strong defence now appreciated tho enormous value to the Dominion of the Cadet rorco. Unable to support a standing ar army, \e w Zealand had adopted the only other system for adequate detance. 'ihis required ita members to serve continuously from 14 to 25 years of age, and evory moment of the time was of priceless value, whether the ft 1 ? 1 , 1 , wa « l f « 25. If, at tho age of la the Cadet was not efficient, the Dominion had lost something it could %^, er , » , The Secondary School Cadet Unit had an additional duty to perform. Having greater opportunities for gaming efficiency, the Defence Department must look to them to eefc up the standard capable of attainment Of Cadets. Such was tho case with the great public schools of England, a trust most faithfully observed by all. as he (Colonel Sleeman) had seen during the hvo t years he was forming the Officers' Training Corps. That corps was started in 1909, and four years later, it JEfESn* past his , Ma i°sty the King 25,000 strong, and on the outbreak of the present war 11,000 of those officers wore given commissions, and were ready to go to the front without any further training, if the secondary schools of New Zealand did as well, and ranked cadet training a? the highest national game to play in an otherwise defenceless country, a ll would go well. speaking to a representative of "The Press' yesterday evening, Colonel Sleenxan eaid that ho had bcon very much rapressed by what he had seen at Burnham. All worked very hard, and ; very oxcellontly, and tho enthusiasm prevailed. The n.c.o.'s assembled in cami> represented the flower of. the secondary schools of this district, and he desired to most heartily congratulate them upon the good worjc they had performed, and also upon the fact that they had given up no inconsiderable portion of their holidays in order to make themselves still more efficient.m their military duties. Referring to tho Passmore shield, Colonel. Sleeman said that owing to its non-arrival he had been unable to present it yesterday, and that funotion would have to be postponed till Christ's College reassembled.