OUR BOY SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 8

OUR BOY SOLDIERS.

THE CAMP QUESTION,

DISCUSSED BY CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Tro: forthcoming public school cadets encampment at Papakura was the subject oi a -brisk discussion at a meeting of the City Schools Committee last evening, whan a copy- of the Education ; Board's circular, embodying the regulations for the control of the camp, was received from the Board. Mr. F. E. N. Gaud in, as an old volunteer officer, said he approved of the camp movement,. which he thought would do the dots a great deal of good. Mr. W. Robinson objected to the boys having to each contribute 3s 6d. Mr. J. F. Pullen saw no reason why the boys should not have a week's training away from home. They would be under proper restraint. They talked of the martial spirit which was supposed to he implanted in Britishers, and why should they attempt to deny the boys an opportunity of sharing in. it?

Dr. Neil did not think there was any danger to be apprehended from the presence of About 300 boys in camp. He thought that instruction in military routine was a good thing tor the boys. Ho asked whether the camp whs a voluntary one.

The Chairman (Mr. P. 11. Maekay) said that so far as the boys were concerned the camp appealed to be a voluntary one, but the circular stipulated that officers would be expected' to attend the camp irrespective of the number of cadets present, and that the attendance of at least one officer of each corps was compulsory. The Board had taken upon itself to order the teachers to do certain things, and this it had no right to do.

Mr. Pullen: That can only tome from the Defence Department. The chairman said lie did not think the Defence Department had such a power. The desirableness of military training for boys was not in dispute, seeing how strongly the cadet movement had been, supported by the teachers. The question was whether a camp was good for tile boys, ana fair to the already hard-worked teachers. In the face of the objections he did not think that Colonel Loveday and the Board should have persisted in forcing the matter upon the teachers. _ The Board should have "climbed down" instead of issuing such a circular. The presence in camp of 300 boys of ages from 11 to 14, could not be beneficial to them morally, as it was impossible for any set of officers to exercise efficient supervision. Mr. 6. Higgins: I agree with you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Gaudin: You must have a very poor opinion of the boys. The Chairman stated that he had a good opinion of the boys, but when they were taken out to Pukekohe for a holiday (in consideration of the way in which they were treated on Dominion Day) the arrangements and organisation were very unsatisfactory. He did not wonder, in view of this experience, at the teachers setting their face against the encampment. 'the sanitary aspect also should be considered, especially in a sub-tropical climate. As to mi lit training, he thought the boys could get more of that by being attached to volunteer battalions when the latter were at work in the Domain. With such a large percentage of volunteer officers on the committee, lie did not expect to be supported by the committee. Ho spoke as a parent and the representative of parents. There was also the question of the interruption of school work.

Mr. Gaudin : " I admit that this is the wrong time to hold the camp. Dr. Neil solid that two hours' military work a day was enough for the boys, and he, thought that perhaps lialf-a-day for a week in the Domain would be .sufficient.

The Chairman hoped that the teachers would have sufficient backbone to' ; say to the Board that they-would not be ordered about. He thought Colonel Loveday should have consulted the committees in regard to the camp. ; . .■: ■'■''":■ '.'•'■ ■'■■■";—''■ Mr. Pullen thought that the influence of the camp would tend to have a good effect on the boys. Some of the officers were too " girlish," and were only willing to turn out when it was a question of walking down Queen-street with their best things on. ;It was pure laziness —nothing eke. The Chairman : That is only your opinion. I propose that the circular be received. Mr. Pullen moved, and Mr. . Robinson seconded, as an amendment, that the following words be added, " And . that the movement, has the committer's support." 'Hie amendment was carried by five to three, '• the voting being : —Ayes: Messrs. Pullen, Robinson, Gaudin, Sfoetnson, and Dr. Neil. Noes: Messrs. Higgins, Bennett, and . the . chairman. Dr. Neil said he did not commit himself to a support of all the details of tine arrangements.

■All arrangements for the camp are. now completed. It is anticipated that 302 cadets will go into camp. A special train to convey the cadets to Papakura. will leave Auckland at 10.30 a.m. on Monday.