The Hastings Standard Published Daily THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1897. THE YEARLY SACRIFICE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 350, 17 June 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1897. THE YEARLY SACRIFICE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Dumng the past three or four weeks we havo put up a record in the slaughter of youths, and the fact requires to be brought hom'e to the minds of the people if we are to see any steps taken to prevent the yearly sacrifice of boys. Every game-shooting season the papers of the colony are unfortunately compelled to record fatal gun accidents; but, as we have said, during the two or three weeks that have just passed we have notched a record. The accident to young Doyle at Levin was a distressing circumstance. He was shot by a companion, the discharge of whose gun was accidental and admitted to be so by the deceased lad. In Blenheim a youth through carelessness or a want of knowledge in the handling of firearms put an end to his life accidentally. Down Invercargill way on Saturday last four boys out rabbiting with one gun succeeded in* killing one of their number. Last year similar accidents were recorded, end it is quite evident that some measures must be adopted to prevent this slaughter. The jury at the inquest on Owen Doyle at Levin very properly drew attention to the number of accidents that have recently occurred through youths being allowed to scour the country with firearms of which they practically know nothing. Boys below a certain age should not be allowed to handle a loaded gun, and those privileged to do so should be licensed only after satisfying the authorities that the handling of firearms is well understood. Unless some such steps are taken the yearly '<> s of boys through gun accidents will continue.

There is another way besides legislation for bringing about an improvement. The accidents that have so far occurred appear to be due to carelessness principally, but there is evidence also of ignorance in handling firearms. The other remedy lies in dialling boys in the use of such weapons, and the best way [to do is to establish cadet corps in connection with all schools where the boys are old enough to be taught military movements and rifle exercises. By doing this a double purpose would be served. The defence of the Empire, which is fast becoming a prominent question, and upon which Mr Seddon had something to say in London a few days ago, should be considered. The Premier promised that New Zealand would spend more money on its land defences. Now we hold the view that by encouraging cadet corps in connection with the public schools we will bs doing a very good thing. Boys can be easily trained ; they can devote plenty of time to drill, and in most districts several companies of boy soldiers could be raised, thus permitting of field exercise and battalion drill, which the Volunteers through lack of time and opportunity very seldom gst. A lad so trained, Avhether he joins the Volunteer force or not, will always be available for the defence of the country. In any sudden emergency his services would be available, and having had a military training he would not require more than a week or two, if that, to " lick" him into shape. At any rate he would be infinitely superior to the raw recruit under such circumstances. These cadet corps would act as feeders to the Volunteer force of the colony, for it is fair to svppose that a percentage of the school boys will acquire a liking for the uniform. It is stated that at the Queen's Birthday review in Wellington the contingent from the Boys' Institute carried out their duties most creditably, and were surpassed only by the well-drilled men of the Permanent Artillery. Some of these boys are sure to join one or the other of the Volunteer companies of the Empire City, and any commanding officer would be glad to receive them into his ranks. What is carried out with the Boys' Institute of Wellington should apply to the principal if not to all the public schools of the colony. The effect of such mititary training and the handling of firearms would tend to a great extent to lessen the number of the gun accidents that have recently occurred. Most of the lads that have been accidentally killed, or who have been concerned in the killing, were or a> - e the age which under the system sketched by us rendered them liable to military training, and had this been so we venture to think that the lads who are resting " beneath the sod" would have been still alive. However, it is to be hoped that the Minister of Justice or some other member of the Cabinet will give a thought to the matter, and take the necessary measures for making the recurrence of such accidents less frequent.