SEA CADETS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1939, Page 6

SEA CADETS

EAR I, BEATTY EXPLAINS

OBJECTS.

(Per Press Association—Copyright)

AUCKLAND, January 25

The aims and work of the Nayy League’s sea cadet movement in Britain and other Empire countries were further explained in an interview by Earl Beatty; chairman of the league in England, who expressed a hope , in his speech on Tuesday that the movement would be widely extended in New Zealand. At present there, are sea cadet corps at Christchurch and Dunedin, but they have so far received little publicity, and their existence is almost unknown in other parts of the Dominion.

The sea cadets originated in 1910,’ when a number of voluntary organisations for the sea training of boys were affiliated with the Navy League; said, Earl Beatty. Immediately- after the Great A?ar the Admiralty recognised the movement by annually inspecting the units and puking small grants to those passed as efficient. It also lenr small-arms and co-operated in a number of other ways. Boys between .the ages of 12 and 18 were eligible to become cadets. They received training in seamanship, boatwork, signalling, marksmanship, drill, swimming and gymnastics. Annual courses were held aboard training; ships and old warships, or in coastal camps. . • . ,

The instruction turned the thoughts of many boys ,to sea careers in the Navy or the. mercantile, marine; but this was not the primary object. The real purpose was, in the world of Lord Lloyd, president of the Navy League, ‘‘To lift up the p’hysique of boys <vnu need it most and to furnish for the service of their country in any hour of peril a body of willing, and patriotic citizens who have already received valuable training in disciplines and seamanship.”

In recent, years, E'arl Beatty continued, the movement had spread rapidly in Britain, and corps had been formed also in Canada, Australia,- New Zealand and South Africa, , In Britain they existed not only on the sea-coast but also in the. great industrial centres and elsewhere inland. .. Distance from the sea made no-difference-at all to the .boys’ keenness. A gift -of. £50,000 bj r Lord Nuffield in. October, 1937, had.,been of very great assistance, and in the last year about 20 new corps had. been, formed.. . Last,Traralgar Day a parade of 3000 cadets had been held in Trafalgar square. . -Except for a small amount of monetary aid given by, the Admiralty, the movement depended entirely upon voluntary effort for the provision of uniforms, drill-halls and ether‘facilities for training. The instructorsr were mostly former .officers and ratings of • the - Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Reserve, who willingly gave much time to the work.

Alore sea cadet corps, Earl Beatty considered, would be of great benefit to the youth of New Zealand, both by encouraging an interest-in sea life and imparting a knowledge of seamanship, and in a more general way by promoting physical fitness, discipline and healthy patriotisrii which expressed itself in service. The work of the corps was complementary to -that of the Royal Naval -Volunteer Reserve, which lads might join when their cadet training was over.