A FATAL DISEASE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7025, 13 January 1910, Page 3

A FATAL DISEASE

<To tbs Editor "N.Z. Times/*)

Sir, —In view of Lord Kitchener's, visit to New Zealand and the anxiety of all classes to impress him with our military fitness and “ common-sense, 5 ' I am delighted to see that at least one unit of our forces has recognised that we arc wasting valuable time. Though tho rani: and file represented by our permanent and volunteer 'forces, exclusive of the Victoria C6L lege Training Corps, are slow in arranging an impressive display, the /‘coming brains” (?) of the service 'have no such hesitancy. This “ three months* precocity 55 will! no doubt amaze K. of K. with its tac-; tical and technical knowledge, as well! .as such commoner skill in shooting, drill, and general efficiency, as is so lamentably wanting in our volunteer officers? Possibly tho V.C.T.C. may be prevailed upon to hold their camp at Trontham a few weeks earlier, and so enable some of our garrison officers to get a thorough insight into the “Selene© of the Military Profession/ 5 I am sure many of our hard-work-ing, enthusiastic officers who are so inefficient “through no fault of their own 55 will be deeply grateful for the opportunity (?) at last thrown in .their way.

The general public, in their _ kindness and courtesy to enthusiastic and misguided youth, have hitherto refrained from pointing out to the students of Victoria College that scholarship is not ability; that a bloated memory is not an educated mind; that several quoted book opinions are not •valuable originality; that ignorance of lifo and narrow outlook are not strength of character; and that “swollen head ” is no substitute for experience.

In case any false impression is held by a small minority of tho general public about the secondary part of Wellington University lifo, namely, the organisation which gives birth to football and hockey clubs, and arranges Bible meetings, tea-fights, and officers’ training corps, ‘ I may say that the students of Victoria _ College are organised somewhat on this plan: Ist—There are a few men of ability, hard-working, intent on their own affairs, and pursuing success in lifo with praiseworthy determination. These men are hardly heard of, except at lectures, and take little part in tho other life of tho college.

2nd —There arc a largo number of students, mostly female, qualifying to earn their living as teachers or studying to improve their present salaries. 3rd A number of so-called students who make Victoria College their hobby, who stay there year after year and uso the college as a means of furthering their social schemes or. helping a budding business. These are the ones who control the students’ society, who classify themselves as the “ coming brains of the country, 5 ’ and who organise “ the childish racket that disgraces the capping ceremony and supply the obnoxious element of the Victoria College students’ personnel. Xu conclusion, I may perhaps 'ho pardoned by the members of the O.T.C. for remarking that .the bad taste and conceit displayed in the charges of ignorance brought against the officers of the garrison, who have all helped the Training' Corps and its officers along, could hardly bo surpassed.—l am, etc..

GEORGE WASHINGTON, .Wellington, January 12th. .