KING'S COLLEGE CADETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 14

KING'S COLLEGE CADETS

TRAINING UNDER CANVAS. SUCCESS OF THE* "BARRACKS." TRIBUTE BY COLONEL POTTER. An inspection of the King's College Cadets, who are at present undergoing a course of instruction at the Narrow Neck Camp, <ft,as made yesterday by Colonel H. R. Potter, general officer in charge of the Northern Command, Lieut.-Colonel J. T. Standish, director of artillery, and Canon 11. Iv. Archdall, headmaster of the college. _ Shortly after 3 o'clock the whole corps, numbering about 300, was reviewed, and after several platoon and company-movements had been carried out the corps was addressed by Colonel Potter. "I am very pleased at the display 1 have - seen this afternoon," he said. "In fact I am delighted, because when I realise that you have only been in training for four days I find the . remarkable progress you have made most astonishing. There is one thing that struck me with particular force, while I was watching you do those movements. I took particular notice of every boy's face and I could see that each was doing his very best. You are keeping up the reputation and traditions of your school, not only in smartness and efficiency here, but also iri the classroom." Colonel Potter said there was an old motto he would like to remind them of, viz.: "Fe«r God, honour the King and love your country." He was convinced they would go through life with that motto in mind. He was pleased to see the headmaster of the college there and he hoped he would be favourably impressed with tlio conditions under which the camp was being held. He hoped King's College would enter into the annual competition for the Riddiford Cup, which did a great deal to improve the standard of cadet shooting throughout the North Island." "The community spirit is morp noticeable than in any camp I have, been in," said Lieutenant R. S. Judson, V.C., camp adjutant, yesterday. "Each ' boy seems determined to work for the good of the Whole corps and tho manner in whioh the n.c.o.'s have performed their duties deserves the highest praise. From the senior prefect to the smallest boy the corps is preserving the highest traditions of its school. Whether washing dishes in the cookhouse, taking part in the recreational games or drilling, the lads take a pride in doing their best for the benefit of the whole unit." Lieutenant Judson said there had been great rivalry in the daily competition between different huts for the privilege of being mentioned every evening in routine orders. It was on easy task to judge 300 cots and pick out the liuT containing the neatest and tidiest. ' He had had four years', active service during tho war and in all that time he had never seen soldiers carry on in camp better than these college boys were doing. They were setting a splendid example to "other units. Although. a'Vickers and a Lewis gun are in use in the camp most of the trainees are too young to be given regular instruction with them. Staff-Sergeant-Major W. C. F. Teinni, although undertaking the onerous duties of camp quartermaster-sergeant, has devoted all his spare time to demonstrating the principles on which the guns work. The cadets have shown a keen interest in this. Later in the afternoon Canon xVrclidall, who was one of the six best shots of his school in college days, pointed the Vickers gun seawards and sent a volley of shots in the direction of the target—a floating kerosene tin. The camp will end to-morrow. VALUE OF THE TRAINING. APPROVAL OF CANON ARCHDALL. "I strbngly approve of the system of annual 'barracks' in which the boys of my school are under a week's military discipline," said Canon H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King's College, who yesterday made an inspection of Narrow Neck camp, where 300 members of tho college cadet corps are undergoing training. "Mr. C. T. Major,-the late headmaster, informed me that this week in camp had an extremely beneficial effect on the boys, and made drill easier for both them and the masters during the yoar. I have not yet had time to test the truth of this statement, but if what I have seen to-day is an example of how they are being trained, I can only say it will prove most valuable. The system seems to weld the lads into one big community, and the camp spirit teaches them to. think of others besides themselves." Canon Archdali said he was greatly indebted to the members of the New Zealand Permanent Staff, who had been most * enthusiastic about the boys, and had evinced a personal interest in them. "I would trust the type of man instructing here with any number of boys," he concluded. '"They are a fine set of fellows, and put any amount of energy into their work."