THE NEW DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 5

THE NEW DEFENCE.

CHURCHES AND CADET TRAINING. ,On Tuesday evening next, at eight o'clock, a meeting is to be held in the Young lien's Bible Class Room, Riddiford Street, at which the Rev. W. Shirer will deliver an Address touching upon (he position raised by a provision in the new Hefence Regulations, which empowers church organisations and ssoeioties to form senior cadet companies (of boys' from 11 to IS years of age) of their own. The matter is under consideration by the "Welfare of Youth" Committee of the Fresbylorian Church in New Zealand, and Mr. Shirer is taking action with a view to promoting tho formation of.senior cadet companies which would be in touch with individual churches, or groups of churches, in Wellington. Similar action is being taken by various religious organisations throughout the country. Mr. Shirer considers that the privilege, conferred, as stated under the Defence Regulations, is of very great importance. One of the objections urged against compulsory (raining when it first came into prominence, was that, under its sway, boys and youths of tender years would bo exposed to undesirable associations. This objection, Mr. Shirer and others think, will be to a great' extent overcome if tho companies of boys enrolled for military training can be kept directly in touch with religious organisations. Tho views of . the Presbyterian communion-upon this important question will be fully expounded by Mr. Shirer nt the meeting on Tuesday evening.