OUT OF HAND. SENIOR CADETS ON PARADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 73, 26 March 1912, Page 8

OUT OF HAND. SENIOR CADETS ON PARADE.

EDUCATION BOABD AND DEFENCE DEPAETMENT. Certain correspondence arising out of the irregular behaviour of certain senior cadets was before the Education Board this afternoon. As the result of a complaint as to damage done by senior cadets at the Normal School, the headmaster complained, and the Education Board passed oh the complaint (after consideration) to tho Defence authorities. On that occasion the Director of Staff Duties and Military Training, Colonel Heard, replied regretting the occurrence, and asking for a full report to be made to the Commandant. Subsequently Colonel Heard wrote stating that on the night tho damage was dono the parade was held in semi-darkness, and as there were net sufficient instructors present, the lads got out of hand. At the conclusion of the drill the lads were marched off and dismissed at the gate, but some returned and committeed the damage, while the instructor was inside the building. In»tructdons (it was added) had been issued that in future all cadet parades are to be held in flighted halls, and a sufficient number of instructors are to attend. Also, that where there is a possibility oi a disturbance, the police are tio be requested to attend and make an example of the offenders. The letter concluded : "I am very sorry you have had cause to complain, as the action of the School Committee, with your board's approval, in placing the loan of buildings, etc., at my disposal, has been a very great help in carrying out the training. Another complaint was received on 12th March from the Normal School as to the behaviour of senior cadets on parade. The writer complained of the lads jumping the fences before the stipulated time for opening the gates, of such gross language that several residents^ after protesting without effect, prevailed on the caretaker to ring up the police, and that the cadets amused themselves by interfering with the electric switches in the building, and by other forms of "horseplay. A police constable, it was 6tat€d, declared that on his arrival some of the cadets were quite beyond control, "though they seemed to have paid some regard to his presence." On 19th March there was still another complaint: — Top rail -torn away from a form in /the Assembly Hall, and wirenetting frame torn down from outside of window in the Assembly Hall. On 25th March, General Godley wrote 6aying he regretted that these irregularities should have occurred, and that the headmaster and the board should have been put to such inconvenience. He added : "But lam sure you will realise that we could hardly expect to 6tart a scheme of this magniture without great difficulties at first, and I trust that they will make allowances for this. I am arrang.'ng for the squads to be smaller, and for more instructors, and trust that by degrees more regularity will be attained. We shall of course pay for the damage done, and I am much obliged to your headmaster and the board for their forbearance in the matter." The correspondence was received. Thfl following recommendation by the Works and Finance Committee of the board was adopted : "That electric light be introduced at four schook^for Territorial drill, the Defence Department accepting all responsibility as regards possible damage. ' The schools are at Thorndon, Kewtown, Brooklyn, Karori. The recommendation was adopted.