IMPERIAL CADET COMPETITION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 12

IMPERIAL CADET COMPETITION

Scots College Team’s Success

CHAMPION RIFLE SHOTS

Governor-General Presents Earl Roberts Trophy

At Scots College yesterday afternoon the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Galway, handed over to C Company, 7th Cadet Battalion (Scots College), the Wellington Regiment, the Earl Roberts Cadet Trophj’ which it won for 1938 in competition with cadet corps throughout the British Empire

The Scots College team, which comprised Company Sergeant-Major J. G. Ross, Sergeant P. G. Brown, Sergeant A. M. Jolly, and Sergeant I. H. MacDonald, won the trophy in September last with an aggregate of 294 points for a team of four.' The weather was beautifully fine when the Governor-General, who was accompanied by Lieutenant LombardHobson, naval aide-de-camp, arrived, and was received by the principal of Scots College, Mr. K. W. R. Glasgow, M.A., and the acting-chairman of the Scots College board of governors. Rev. P. J. Wainwright. 1

Among those present were the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones; Colonel E. Puttick, officer commanding the Central District; Major F. L. Hunt, Area Staff Officer, Wellington; the members of the board of governors of Scots College, and a large attendance of parents of the pupils of the school. The Scots College cadets, under Captain V. F. O. Francis, gave the Royal Salute on his Excellency’s arrival, and the college pipe band played the National Anthem.

Lord Galway then inspected the cadets and the band.

Outstanding Feat.

Welcoming his Excellency, Mr. Glasgow said that the occasion was one of considerable importance in the history of the school. He expressed the hope that Lord Galway would visit the school again before his term as His Majesty’s representative in the Dominion'came to an end. Mr; Glasgow also welcomed the Minister of Defence. “I am sure that you will be pleased and interested to know that of the five members of the shooting team, three have already joined up with the territorial units —Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Scottish, and the Engineers—while the other two are living in such remote districts that it is impossible for them to join up with any, unit, though I am certain they would do so if possible.” Mr. Glasgow then outlined the .series of practices in which the shooting team took part. The conditions, he said, required each member of the team to fire five shots at 500 yards; five shots at 500 yards up to 100 yards, with movement in between each shot; five shots rapid at 200 yards; and five shots snap-shooting at 200 yards. “It will be readily. understood,” Mr. Glasgow continued, “that we can feel proud of a team that can score 294 points out of 320 under such conditions. Sergeant Jolly, in particular, is to be congratulated on his brilliant performances of scoring 77 out of 80. One cannot shoot, particularly under such strenuous conditions, without being thoroughly fit, and we feel that the importance that we place on the physical side of education is justified.” Lord Galway’s Address.

His Excellency congratulated the team on its splendid performance, which was a distinct credit to the college and to themselves. Their performance showed that physical fitness had been brought to the highest pitch. “In these strenuous times,” his Excellency continued, “it pays to keep your eye on tlje target, and your thoughts on the serious things of life. Military training means more than simply marching up and down the field. It means training for seizing on the moment, and not letting the opportunity pass. Training in the school and the cadet corps makes for quickness of eye, and quickness of decision. I take a great interest in cadet corps and their efficiency, as they help to develop power to grasp the situation and deal with it. They help to form uhd stabilize character. The importance of rifle shooting is a great factor in the .training of cadets.” Lord Galway went on to say that in his day Lord Roberts was the greatest schoolboy hero.- That great soldier had been Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Boer War, and. on his return' to England, had stressed the importance of rifle shooting ami military training. He remembered seeing Lord Roberts come to inspect the Yeomanry of Notingham, of which his Excellency’s father was commander, and he (Lord Galway) was subaltern. .

With a (Scots College, continued Lord Galway,'it might be thought there was room for a further development of the kilt in the cadet corps. He had not the same connexion with Scotland as Sir .Charles Eergtisson possessed, but perhaps the authorities would be able to see their way to grant this request if it were brought before them. The acting-chairman of the board of governors of Scots College, Rev. P. J. Wainwright, thanked his Excellency for attending, and for his address. The board of governors wished to congratulate Captain Bedding and the young men who had won the rifle shooting trophy. Presentation of Trophy.

Captain Bedding and the winning rifle team were then presented to bis Excellency, who handed over the Ear! Roberts Cadet Trophy to Captain Bedding, and presented each member of the team with a medal.

The cadet company marched past the Governor-General in column of fours, and, after circling the ground, again marched past in column of platoons, and finished up by advancing in review order, and giving the Royal Salute.

The excellence of the drill of the cadets and the band was commented upon by the military officers present. Proceedings endod with a gymnastic display.

(Pictures on page 9.)