FOR DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 24 May 1923, Page 6

FOR DEFENCE.

Military Training-.

EXEMPTION DISLIKED The Heraid has criticised a motion by Mr G. Steven that fhc Timaru High Schools Board recommend the Defence Department to grant exemption from training to pupils of High Schools who have attained the age of 17 years and gained proficiency certificates in drill. To explain the position to the public a “Herald” man interviewed yesterday officers of Cadet and Territorial Units in Timaru, and gained from them the military view of the subject. Lieutenant-Colonel Ncwman-Wilson, D. 5.0., M.C., Officer in Charge of the Sth Cadet Battalion, when approached stated that he had not given the matter considered thought, but a., first flush it appeared to him that such a provision would be absurd. It would mean altering the whole policy of the Defence scheme, and above all, in liis estimation, it would lead to an undesirable class distinction. He referred in highly complimentary terms to the excellence, from a military point of view, of the guard of honour from the Timaru Boys’ High School, provided for General Sir Andrew Russell, and stated that for steadiness and efficiency he had seen nothing liner. The late war had proved most conclusively, and this was again emphasised in the recent Canterbury College centenary celebrations, that it was to the universities, and high schools that they had to look for tlm supply of officers or material for officers in cases of emergency. Presumably these men had military training at their schools. -Apart, however, from the local view, there was the “much broader view of the defence of the Dominion. He instanced the territorial extension of the great nations of the world in the past, and to-day there was no alteration in that necessity and practice. A moment’s reflection on the Eastern position would reveal the grave necessity for defence. They could not afford to allow good material to go unused.

ANOTHER OFFICER’S VIEW. Major L. M. Inglis, M.C., O.C. Timaru detachment Ist Canterbury Battalion, stated that he did not think the question taken up by Mr Steven affected the Board or the school pupils in any way. Only a few of the boys went through the schools on to the University. In the case of his school (IVaitaki) only 12 per cent, went to Universities. There was no reason, he contended, why. if students were exempt, every lad who wanted to learn any occupation or trade, should not also be exempted. In his opinion it was just at the stage of leaving school, when boys got ideas anu imaginings of their own importance, that discipline was necessary more than at any time. If military training were dropped everywhere else it should be carried on at the secondafy schools, because these wore the hoys who, in the main/ played a big part in the community in all branches. If they did not they ought to because they had had an education in secondary schools which was calculated to train the brain.

LEADERS WANTED. In a school cadet corps a headmaster had the best possibles means of training boys to become leaders. When a boy went into a school cadet corps ho had over him another boy as corporal or sergeant.. He knows that when his time comes he may occupy a simiku position of authority and in this manner are inculcated, the principles of the command or control of others. Cadet training taught a man how to become- a leader. If the boys who did no training in secondary schools were to be exempt, on leaving school the territorial force would be deprived of the men who ought to be its leaders. Probably the larger number of officers had been secondary school boys, and were qualified on account of their previous training. They appreciated fully the esprit-de-corps and they realised more keenly the spirit oi discipline. They had been taught to regard public service as part of their duty in life, and to devote some time to public interest. Reference had been made to the disturbing effect of military training on the studies c-f University students, but his own experience was that parades provided a welcome relaxation. All that aas required was 20 evening drills and !u half-day parades in which time to shoot the prescribed course < of musketry. If a student could not perform that service for his country, he should get out of it. Lieutenant J. P. C. V alsh, Officer Commanding one of the Timaru Cadet Companies, also spoke of Die dangers of class distinction contained in ihe resolution. T.B.H.S. boys had been especially fine officeis. |