CAREERS AS SOLDIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 2

CAREERS AS SOLDIERS

; U.S. TRAINING- SYSTEM l VISITOR PROM WEST POINT I i ( ~...,„. | "Your experiments in social legislation , I have attracted the attention of all those 1 Interested- in that study in America," \ said Colfifcd L. 11. Holt, professor of ' J economics, government) and history, at 1 tho Unite*! States .Military Academy, West Poinjt, in explaining on board the Niagara, ait Auckland the reason for a 1 visit, to N(t)W Zealand. Tho qfefatkms in which Colonel Holt is . TiartiaitJarljy interested are the working of the conciliation council and the Arbitration Court, land legislation, and the work of tire various producers' asso'cia- ' 'tiens. Learning and military training [go hand in hand at; West Point, the ibVsic military school of the United Sf (tfes, situated on Federal territory. 50 miles up tho. Hudson River from Now 'T'ork. In spite of his academic distinc'tions and the fact that he is the author f of numerous text-books, Colonel Holt is ! not, to outward semblance, a "bookish" I man, but has the lithe, athletic air of I the student of the out-of-doors. He has !' been at. West Point since 1.910. All who graduate at West Point take a. pledge of eight years' service, said Colonel Holt. The first four years of thai period is spent at the academy, where- the students are paid 108 dollars a« month. Out of that sum they pity their tuition fees, tho payment being designed so that the average student will. have saved between 60 O.iiid 1000 dollars by the time lie has completed his nreulranic course and leaves, with tho rank of second lieutenant, to undergo his fiu»bhe-)>? term of service. *■ (vermin academic and physical stand-

ards must be attained before a boy enters West Point, added Colonel Holt. The. institution is essentially democratic, it being estimated that over 70 per cent, Of the students are the sons of men of very average means. About 1200 students are at present in residence at West Point. After a fortnight in New Zealand Colonel Holt, who has obtained extended leave> from the academy, will visit Australia. There he. intends to sco Duntroon Military College.