VALLE OF CADET TRAINING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 15

VALLE OF CADET TRAINING

No Policy Change anted

“School cadet training helps to develop qualities which will be of importance in a boy’s life—leadership, alertness, a sense of responsibility and self-reliance,’’ said Lieu-tenant-Colonel A. W. White, chairman of the Cadet Advisory Committee to the Chiefs of Staff, at the end of a twoday meeting in Wellington last week. Colonel White is principal ef the Stratford Technical High School and has been reelected chairman of the committee for the fourth time. The committee includes representatives of the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association, the Educational Institute and independent private schools. The committee recommended that the corps should continue in its present form, because of the statement earlier by the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) that there would be no immediate change in cadet policy. There are now 50,238 cadets’in New Zealand. It was also recommended that a new type of drill uniform should be considered for the cadets. This will be considered by the Army supply authorities. At present the Navy has its own uniform and it is understood that the Air Force is considering supplying the Air Training Corps with a suitable blue uniform. A plan for more stimulating and interesting courses for officers and non-commissioned officers was supported by the committee. The conference d.scussed whether civil defence should be part of some specialist training for senior cadets.