FOR HEARTH AND HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14174, 24 September 1909, Page 7

FOR HEARTH AND HOME.

EVERY YOUTH IN THE RANKS.

UNIVERSAL TRAINING SCHEME.

The opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel W. D. Holgate, of the Auckland , volunteer force, on the important questica of Dominion defence, is that universal training is the only course to be adopted. " I have come to that conclusion," he said to a Hkrau> representative yesterday, " after 11 years' experience of volunteering in New Zealand, two years in Australia, and some three years of soldiering in England."

Asked whether he considered universal training to be feasible, and as to bow the system could be brought into vogue, Colonel Holgate said that he considered it to be absolutely feasible, and, moreover, expressed the opinion that the Government could have the system in a modified form, without opposition, at any time they wished. He did not advocate the Swiss system, but would commence by making It compulsory for every physically fit youth to serve, or to put in a certain amount of training, until he was 21 years old. His reason for fixing that age limit was that it would be possible to get what was wanted up to that age. Once men were old enough to be entitled to vote, he feared a good many would exercise it in the direction of making " the other fellow" (the minor) serve, and exempting themselves.

Colonel Holgate went on to say that he believed in the cadet system up to a certain point, but not on the lines now practised. He considered it a mistake to commence with a boy too young. The age of 13 was early enough, and then a lad should only be taught discipline, musketry, company and physical drill. > " der the present system boys were given a smattering of everything, even to the extent of taking them to camp. This bad a tendency to make boys imagine they knew all there was to know, with the result that very few who had been cadets joined the volunteers.

Asked how he would suggest that cadets and the forces should be trained under a universal system. Colonel Holgate said: "I would suggest that all boys from 13 to 17 should be trained by the Education Department, which would mean that all teachers in public or private schools would have to pass examinations as instructors to qualify them as schoolmasters. Under my system the boy who left school at 14 or thereabouts would continue to be trained with his battalion by the school staff until he was 17. At the latter age all youths would be handed over to the Defence Department, and would continue to be trained in more advanced work until they were 21. They could then be put on the unattached reserve force, and still be liable to be called upon at .any time the Government thought fit, either for drill or for service. Ido not put forward this scheme as being as perfect as one would like, but it is probably the only one which a country such as New Zealand would vote for. One reason why it should not be regarded as flawless will bo readily seen, namely,' that under the proposed system we should only have a trained force consisting of boys for the next few years. I contend, however, that every year would improve our position. 1 claim, moreover," continued Colonel Holgate, " that if a boy is trained from the time he is 13 until he is 21, he would learn what he would never forget, and could at any time be easily knocked into fighting trim."

Asked whether his system -would mean doing away with the volunteers, Colonel Holgate replied that he would favour dispensing with the volunteers in the meantime, on the grounds of expense. The present defence vote amounted to between £230.000 and £250,000, and, of course, his scheme would be even more expensive. It would, for instance, be necessary to have a highly trained staff of instructors, a training college for officers and instructors in each large centre, and it might also be necessary to call on non-commissioned officers from Imperial regiments to act as instructors for a start. After a short time, however, no doubt a large staff of instructors would be forthcoming. His scheme would also mean practically a standing camp during the whole of the summer months, which would be occupied in training relays of battalions and regiments, as circumstances permitted. Colonel Holgate was convinced that if the Government required a practical scheme it would only be a question of working out the details on the population basis to get at what it ,7ould cost per year. " I consider," he said, in conclusion, " that this is the only scheme whereby this Dominion, with its large tracts of unoccupied land and scattered population, and with its enormous sea coast, can possibly make itself at all efficient, or prepared at any time, to defend the country should necessity arise." The present volunteer system he and others considered was not a satisfactory one.

THE BOY SCOUTS,

A LIVE MOVEMENT. The "boy scouts" movement is evidently making good progress in the Auckland district. Patrols are being formed in various . parts of the city and suburbs, and judging from the numerous applications for enrolment there is every prospect of a, large division being formed in the district. Troops have been formed in Ponsonby, Parnell, Devonport. Northcote, and Birkenhead, whilst at Otahuhu two patrols have just been organised by the Rev. H. Mason. The Rev. Mr. Chappell has been appointed inspector-general for New Zealand, Dr. R. H. Makgill is in charge of the North Island division, whilst Lieutenant-Colonel Abbott, D.5.0., has been asked to take charge of the Auckland district.

The scouts, which consist of boys whose ages range from 14 to 17 years, are taken out as opportunity offers, by their scoutmasters in the country, and there given lessons in elementary botany, geology, as well as the duties of military scouts, the Morse system of signalling, physical drill, horseback riding, as well as being taught to cultivate their powers of observation in every possible way. First aid in ambulance work is also taught to the boys and generally the training is a most interesting and instructive one. The system, it should be mentioned, is not intended to clash in any way with the school cadet movement, and many boys on leaving the cadets at the end of their school term, will, no doubt, follow up this useful practical training by attaching themselves to the scouts.

The Northcote troop, which now numbers some 45 boys, is one of the most active yet formed in the district. On Wednesday evening next the scoutmaster, Mr. H. Stebbing, will repeat a lecture at Northcote on the British Navy, in aid of a fund for the erection of a lecture and drill hall for the use of the troop, which has been designed by Mr. W. H. Glover, and which is to be erected on a site presented by the Northcote Borough Council. Lieutenant Cumming will drill the boys on the Northcoto reserve tomorrow afternon.