MILITARY TRAINING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10086, 27 September 1918, Page 7

MILITARY TRAINING

DIRECTOR'S TOUR. OF SOUTH * ISLAND.

Colonel J. L. Sleeman, LG.S., Director of Military Training, returned to Wellington yesterday from a tour of me South' Island. ' During his absence /rora Headquarters, Colonel ■' Sleeman visited Dunedin, Christchurch. Kaikoura, Blenheim and Nelson. ... While at Dunedin a barracks for instruction was held for the cadets of the Otago Boys’ High School. The cadets marched into camp 120 strong and performed four days usual instruction at a. total cost of J 630. the reason for the low cost being that each cadet, contributed ten shillings Sewards the expense of holding. .the barracks. , . • Another barracks was held at Nelson ’College when 250 cadets did military instructional work, which was excellently performed. The results showed a distinct improvement compared with _ the barracks held last year, and the Director of Military Training expressed his entire satisfaction with the way the work was 1 carriied 1 out - by the Dunedin and Nelson units. - \ Colonel Sleeman also . inspected territorial and cadet units in other centres and gave instructionel lectures at officers clubs on the way. , ... Colonel Sleeman said that the splendid spirit and keeness that was being shown bv cadets at the barracks of instruction impressed him greatly. Last year six barracks were held, one at Wanganui Collegiate School, one at St. Patrick’s, one at Waitnki High School, one Otago High School, one • at Christ’s College, and one at Wellington College. This year, which commenced on Juno Ist, barracks have been held - for the cadets. at Waitaki High - School, Timaru High School,- Nelson College, and Otago High School, while others are to bo held at W r anganui Collegiate School, Christchurch High School, New Plymouth High School,. Napier High School and King’s College (Auckland). Arrangements have yet to bo .made for the holding of barracks at many of the other leading secondary schools in the Dominion, so that it null be at once apparent that considerable progress has been made sino< the scheme was first put into operation. The Passnv're Shield, which was presented for efficiency, was won last year by. Christ’s College Cadets, but it is anticipated that this year the eonipetitio” will bo exceptionally keen for the honour of holding the .trophy. Colonel Slesmnn stated that a band helps the. cadets, in a large measure, in their training. One or two of the units have bands, and while in Nelson he was instructed to purchase suitable instruments for the formation of h band in connection - with ;tho Nelson College Cadets, and he believed that other cadet units would follow suit