The Daily News MONDAY, MAY 14. JUVENILE AND ADULT DEFENDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8109, 14 May 1906, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, MAY 14. JUVENILE AND ADULT DEFENDERS.

A large quantity of ink has been shed lately on the question of the military defence of New Zealand. Under the comprehensive heading " defence," school-cadet organisation has been included, although cadets have nothing whatever to do with the matter. They don't defend anything or anybody, except the billots of several stiff-backed ex-volunteer officers, who would be batter engaged doing some work. If the eadet movement had been inaugurated for the joy of the small boy, who delighted in wearing a Glengarry cap, with a pretty border, and whose weapon is one that won't shoot, it was a kind and noble thing for the powers that be to think of. But the cadet was merely and solely the outcome of the war fever which possessed the country when Victoria was Queen, I * * » »

It is a very animated spectacle to see a large number of dear little boys inarching down the street, and, anyhow, the Duke of York said they were a fine body of children. H.R. H., however, is neither a military expert nor a person capable of judging the utility of those cadets If the school cadet corps are useful, keep them. If they are' not useful, disband them. Ave they useful, and in what way ? The cadets learn discipline. So do schoolboys who are not cadets. The cadets learn to march to step. So do boys of ordinary intelligence in mere school classes. The cadets carry " rifles." And there's the rub. The rifles won't shoot. Therefore the cadets are not " armed." Why " Defence Forces Cadets?" The cadets parade on every possible occasion. To learn the art of warfare ? No, hut to escort some nabob or other who has a pair of legs and a carriage that ought to be sufficient support. » * ♦ *

Tbe education system of New Zealand is " free, secular, and compulsory." Is the alleged training of the cadets " education ?" It is not, but it is compulsory, Schoolmasters are compelled to be officers. They don't want to be. It is no part of a schoolmaster's work to rush into millinery the moment a nabob shows up on the skyline. Likewise is the schoolmaster ordered by the Defence Department to do specific things. It doesn't matter to the D.D. that it interfere with the work the Education Department also orders him to do. He is a soldier—a sort of glorified conscript. If he likes it, he is too meek to be a good teacher. If the boys don't like it better than learning lessons, they are queer youngsters. Every military panjandrum who comes here says the training the youngsters get will fit them to become citizen soldiers. Just twaddle, every word of it. The boys don't learn anything military, bee mse anything military without arms is as useful as anything marine without water. If it is the military spirit that is to be roused in the boys, why not let the spirit lay dormant until there is need of it ? We don't want juvenile swashbucklers about.

* # # # And talking about the advantage of letting the military spirit lie dormant, reminds us that Colonel Kitchener, lately around here, has put forward a scheme - that of " modified conscription." It is a good schime, because it would compel every man—street corner general and all—to train for probable eventualities. We hoi J that the defence of one's country is not the business of any body of men, but the business of every mm. Of course, should the occasion arise, every man would arise like one, but the rising of the man who knew absolutely nothing of arms would be a temporary hindrance. Everybody is at heart a fighter, and a man isn't necessarily a fighter because he wears a uniform. Imagine, for instance, a regiment of Grenadiers in full dress being asked to put down a revolt of an equally numerous body of citizens sanely clothed and carrying good rifles. The military spirit and the pipe-clay and the tight belts would avail nothing. * * * «

If the volunteer system was entirely suspended tomorrow, and modified conscription followed, the country would be as safe, or safer, than it now is. It would also get rid of a vast amount of snobbishness and redtape, and it would have a truly national defence comprising every ablebodied male, and not a few apathetic persons who mostly take to defence matters because man has still a bai - 1 aric love for dress. Cut the country up into sections, and go about defence on the commando plan, is about the best advice the haughty warriors who dominate the male wardrobe in this country could get. All the best men in the country are not in the volunteer forces, but they would be in any small matter of a quarrel we might have with aggressors. It is only a question of teaching the best men and all the men in the country to use themselves in the best way when occasion requires. The cadet system fails and the volunteer system fails The only system that can't fail is a system where every man is bound to answer his name when the roll is called. Otherwise let us leave the war business alone altogether.

Seventy-seven students have already enrolled for the Technical classes about to be commenced in Elthain, under the auspices of the Wanganui Education Board.

"If I had a road to look after, I would put that first, and consider the road and the Road Board before the weather," said a fault-finding Egmont road settler on Saturday. Amidst laughter, tho chairman remarked, " You're the mau we want on our roads," but the ratepayer wasn't willing.

The Premier on Saturday roceived through His Excellency the Governor a cablegram from the Secretary of State for tho Colonies, conveying the thanks of the King ot Italy for the Colony's sympathy with the sufferers by the erruption at Vesuvius. In the published roport of Mr Fraser's remarks at the last meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce executive, he was made to state that the tea put up in New Zoaland was in 13oz packets. This was a typographical error, and should have read l*ozs., as against 17ozs. in the imported packages. In order to facilitate oil prospecting' the trustees of the Whiteley township have decided—" That in the case of all present and future leases of land in the Whiteley township, the trustees will facilitate the grant of rights to bore for, and remove petroleum oil and gas, on such terms as may be reasonable, provided that in each ease the rent or royalty in respects to such rights by the guarantee thereof be paid to the trustees, and one half thereof be paid bv them to tho lessees of the land,"

Por the past six months or longer, the Egmont Road Board has been vigorously striving to obtain £SOO for work on the Smart and Dorset roads. The special order was duly made and gazetted on 14th October, but the money failed to show up. Mr P. C. Morton, the clerk to the Board, has just received a communication to the effect that the money has been placed to the Board's credit in the bank. The letter had previously been forwarded to the Waitotara County Council! There's some need, apparently, for instruction in geography amongst the State's lee ical assistants.

The Secretary of the Marine Depart, ment has written to the New Plymouth Collector of Customs re section 6 of "The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Act, 1905," which enables the granting of certificates of service to engineers mentioned in the sub-section, viz., those of pleasure yachts, missionary ships or fishing boats. These applications, ho states, should bo sent in before the date provided for by the Act, namely, 18th July next.

Mr W. E. Spencer, Chief Inspector ef Education in Taranaki, has just returned from a visit to the schools in the southern portion of the education district. Whilst at Opunake he discussed with tho committee a proposal to constitute the school a district high school. It wis found that the,number of higher standard pupils would not warrant the establishment of the school, but the energetic chairman, Mr Sooney, assisted by the master, Mr Alf. Gray, is taking steps to have evening continuation and technical classes formed in order to give Opunake people the same advantages as arc enjoyed around New Plymouth and other ceatres. Agricultural education will probably be taken up as one of the advanced classes, The school grounds are to be laid out in plots for this work.

The sole subject of discussion, or coaversation, at the annual meeting of Egmont road ratepxyers was the unsatisfactory work done on the roads. Ratepayers complained tint the watertables were not cleaned out, the consequence being that flood water was forced to run down the roadway instead of draining off, and " away goes the metal." Mr Hill considered a surfaceman needed " guintion," and ought to be able to " work with his head as well as his shovel." Mr Connett thought it ridiculous for a mau to take six days to do a job with a shovel, when a plough would enable it to be finished'in two days. Further complaint was made that in wet weather there was no supervision—just the very time when a visit of inspection should be paid in order to find out the weak points of the drainage, etc.

There was only a fair house on Saturday night to witness "The Gondoliers," staged by Mr J. 0. Williamson's Opera Company. The piece was exceptionally well staged, the principals making the very most of their opportunities. The magnificent dressing and scenic effects, assisted by bright chorus nork, spicy humour and delicate satire, good singing, pnd splendid acting, just suited the brilliant performance of the orohostra, and " The Gondoliers" was voted a greater success than the opera of the previous night.

It has been proved in other countries that when petroleum was struck, thero followed a rush for land, and the lucky buyers of land made large profits. The sale of that fine suburban property known as " Smart Suburbs " now presents an exceptional opportunity for buyers to make big profits, the 20 aero sections, nearly all level, with beautiful building sites, situated handy to town and railway, are offered for sale at the extraordinary low figure of £25 per acre. Messrs E, J. Carthew and Company, land agents, have arranged that these sections can be bought on very oasy terms, only 10 per cent cash being required.