Aust. cadet corps to be disbanded

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 15

Aust. cadet corps to be disbanded

(N Z Press Assn—Copyright) CANBERRA, Auugst 26.

The Australian Minister of Defence (Mr William Morrison) today announced in the House of Representatives the disbandment of of the School Cadet Corps at the end of this year.

Senior military advisers, including the Defence Forces Development Committee, had advised him that cadets did not contribute to Australia’s defence preparedness, he said.

The continued training of cadets could not be justified on the ground of cost, and it tied up about 385 Regular Army servicemen who could be better deployed. Members of the LiberalCountry Opposition reacted angrily to Mr Morrison’s announcement.

“Whv don’t you shed a

tear?” one back-bencher interjected before being called to order by the Speaker (Mr Gordon Scholes). • Mr Morrison replied: “The Opposition accuses the Government of not listening ‘to its military advisers. Well, it has in this case. As Minister of Defence I believe that it is essential for every dollar of the Defence Vote to be used to the utmost in adding to Australia’s defence preparedness.” He added that studies had shown that the average cadet only reached, after several years training, the proficiencv level reached bv an ordinarv servicemen after three weeks training.