COLONEL HOLGATE

Observer, Volume XXVIII, Issue 26, 14 March 1908, Page 3

COLONEL HOLGATE

And the Cadet Camp

COLONEL HOLGATE has rested from his travels long enough to furnish a Star reporter with his valuable opinions regarding the cadet camp. The daily papers appear to have been singularly remiss in their duties. One would have supposed that when, a short time ago, the controversy concerning the camp was at its height, the gallant Colonel would have been rushed by reporters anxious to learn his views on the matter. Possibly, however, he was away on one of his numerous travelling expeditions at the time. Anyway, Colonel Hoigate has at last spoken, and spoken with true military ardour. The Colonel emphatically does not approve of the camp. • • »

Not only is the gallant Colonel opposed to the camp, but he is " bitterly " opposed to it. He bases his objections to it on three grounds, namely, health, morality and training. The Colonel may be an authority on training. Very probably he is also an authority on morals. We have yet to learn, however, that he is an authority on health. If our memory serves us aright, it was Colonel Holgate who was in command of the troops that paraded at Victoria Park on Dominion Day, and people are not likely to i org» t the treatment that was meted out to the cadets on that occasion, when the unfortunate youthful warriors had to stand on sodden grass for the best part of four hours. Did Colonel Holgate, the officer commanding the troops, consider that treatment to be conducive to the health of the cadet* ?

Tho Colonel is reported to have f aid that " boys of that age, as everyone knew, wanted stimulating food, and certainly if they bad not got a

good constitution a great many of them would get ill under the camp fare." Judging from the official list of rations that was recently published, and also from the menu of the canteen, this paternal solicitude on the Colonel's part for the health of the cadets, while no doubt a touching thing to read about, appears to be somewhat misplaced. It certainly cannot be said that any of the boys showed signs of abnormal thinness on their return to town. As a matter of fact, they appeared to have thriven remarkably well on the camp fare so disgustedly alluded to by Colonel Holgate. Certainly, that fare wasn't quite so dainty as that which is supplied to the Colonel and his staff when they go into camp, but it was quite wholesome enough for growing youngsters.

" From a moral point of view," said the Colonel, " it could not be good for 300 and odd boys of so tender an age, and of all creeds, dispositions, and training, to her"d. together." Note the severe and lofty stricture implied in that little word " herd." What would happen to any rash individual Who ventured to insinuate that Colonel Holgate and his colleagues " herded " together when they went into camp ? But considerably more than 300 and odd boys of all creeds, dispositions and training "herd together" (if the gallant Colonel will allow us to borrow his elegant and expressive phrase) in the public schools every day, Sundays and holidays excepted. Yet there is no evidence that this " herding together " has had any evil effect on the morals of young New Zealand. Why should " herding together " in a camp do so ? However, we will waive that point. Colonel Holgate is evidently an authority on morals, and it would be immoral for us to set up our opinion against bia on a matter of that kind.

Military Censor Holgate goes on to complain that if boys get too ranch military training at school they get blas6 t and refuse to join the volunteers when they grow up. This is an appalling thought, because if there were no volunteers there would be po Colonel Holgate, and his name would have to appear in the personal column of the daily papers with the plain prefix of " Mr." This would be intolerable. As to the statement about boys getting blas6, we have heard this accusation frequently hurled by uncharitable people against more than one prominent military officer in this dominion, but a blast boy would be a distinct curiosity.

Colonel Holgate does not approve of the cadet camp, bat then some people don't approve of Colonel Holgate. We have seen Colonel Holgate on parade, and we have seen the cadets on parade, and we are bound to confess that we prefer the cadets. That, of course, is our poor taste. The Colonel may be looked upon with admiration and awe by LieutenantColonel Reed and his other military cronies, but the outside public are not likely to read the Colonel's reraaiks concerning the cadet camp with the reverence that such an inspired theme demands. They are probably getting tired of seeing the name of Colonel Holgate in the daily papers. If the Colonel has nothing more interesting to talk about, he would be better employed in travelling.