NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR CADETS (REPORT ON THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, E-11

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Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR CADETS (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Staff Officer for New Zealand Junior Cadets to the Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. 8lR _. Wellington, 14th June, 1912. I have the honour, pursuant to subsection (2) of section 36 of the Defence Act, 1909, to submit the following report on the Junior Cadets of New Zealand for the year ended the 31st March, 1912. Changes of Junior Cadet Headquarters Staff. Major T. W. McDonald, N.Z.S.C, and lately Commandant of the Junior Cadets, left for England on the Ist December, 1911, to be attached for training to the Regular Forces for one year. Appointment of Officer in Charge of Junior Cadet Department. The Hon. the Minister of Education, on the 3rd November, 1911, approved of the appointment of Captain A. C. C. Stevens, N.Z.S.C, to be Staff Officer for Junior Cadets. Junior Cadet Strength. There are 573 primary schools in which the Junior Cadet Department has active interests. During the past year 114 new appointments of Junior Cadet officers were made, and thirty-two resignations were accepted. At nine schools new corps were formed, and three schools on last year's strength were handed over to the Defence Department for purposes of training. The present estimated strength of the Junior Cadets is as under :— Officers (including Scoutmasters at small schools 1910 _ n 1900-10. Increase, where Scout-work is done instead of military drill) .. •• •■ •■ ■■ ] > 315 x ' 233 82 Junior Cadets (including Scout Cadets) 29,308 29,067 241 Grand total, officers and Cadets, 1910 -11 .. 30, 623 30,300 323 Camp of Instruction for Junior Cadet Officers. In January last, during the school holidays, a camp of instruction for Junior Cadet officers was held at Timaru, on the showgrounds of the Agricultural Society, kindly lent for the occasion rent-free. Ninety-three teacher officers attended for instruction, in itself a striking proof of the enthusiasm of the teacher for his Junior Cadet duties. A very useful amount of work was.done. The syllabus of training only contained simple military drill and free gymnastics—or, in other words, just what the teacher would have to impart to his Cadets at school. This camp was run on strictly military lines, and the most pleasing feature about it, perhaps, was the splendid spirit which prevailed—for, in order to keep down expenses, teachers performed all camp fatigues (except cooking) no matter how menial; and we were therefore able to cut down camp attendants to a minimum. There was no sickness of any sort in camp. ~,,,, , , 1 1 1 v. These camps are the only means of getting at the backblock teachers whose school locality precludes the possibility of the Department's Instructors visiting them. The fact that the teachers attending camp gave up a week of their holiday for the purposes of instruction is an eloquent testimony of the keenness which obtains among these officers for the Cadet movement.

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Brigade Parades. ,~ Brigade parades took place on Coronation Day and Dominion Day at the four largest centres, and in all cases were very well attended, the average attendance being about 1,500 Junior Cadets. Obituary. I regret to have to report the death of Mr. Richard Mears, late Storeman and Armourer, on the 27th August, 1911. Mr. Mears was for many years a faithful servant of the Department, and bore a fine British army record, having been with Lord Roberts on his famous march from Kabul to Khandahar, for which he received the Roberts Star. He also wore the Zululand and Egyptian Campaign medals. New Appointment. Mr. E. R. C. Brooke was appointed Storeman and Armourer on the sth September, 1911, in place of Mr. R. Mears, deceased. Transfer. Sergeant-major Instructor S. Moore, of the New Zealand Junior Cadet Staff, was appointed Area Sergeant-major to the New Zealand Defence Force Instructional Staff on the 13th February, 1912. Inspections. Owing to the fact that no provision is made on the estimates for an Assistant Staff Officer, and as there is such a big volume of official correspondence to be dealt with at Headquarters, affecting 573 schools and approximately 30,000 Junior Cadets, 1 was not able to get away on inspection duty as much as I wished. lam glad, however, to report that I was able to visit Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay centres, also schools in and near Nelson, Blenheim, and further south between Timaru and Dunedin, including Christchurch. Major McDonald visited Auckland, Taranaki, and Wanganui districts earlier in the year, so that between us we practically covered all the education districts. The West Coast and Invercargill districts still remain untouched, though I have arranged for periodical visits by Staff Instructors to both these localities. I am glad to report that everywhere 1 went I found conscientious and intelligent efforts being made to cope with the training of Junior Cadets both in elementary military drill, free gymnastics, and deep breathing, and, generally speaking, enthusiasm prevails throughout the Dominion amongst teachers for the Junior Cadet movement. Physical Instruction. I regard the physical instruction of the young attending primary schools in New Zealand as being of the utmost importance. From what I have been able to gather from personal observation, I consider the present system is altogether too haphazard. What is required is uniformity throughout schools. This could only be attained by instituting under a Central Department, such as the Junior Cadet Department, a series of teachers' classes for male and female teachers in all parts of the Dominion, and placing these classes in the hands of the best available professional experts —experts who can not only demonstrate exercises, but explain the use and object of each on anatomical and physiological lines to teachers, who will in turn be able to pass the knowledge so gained to their pupils. A suitable handbook of exercises—such, for instance, as that used by the London Education Board and by primary schools in Australia—might be adopted as the standard handbook, thus ensuring greater uniformity still; and, in order that results might be noted, a system of recording on cards the improvement or reverse physically of every individual child attending school might be instituted. This has been done experimentally at some schools, but there is no reason why the system should not be made universal. I may say that, with regard to the above suggestions, such small beginnings have been made by this Department as our means allow, viz. : — (1.) The nine Instructors belonging to the Department were assembled for a " refresher course " in November last, and put under an expert for tuition in physical exercises and deep breathing. (2.) I have personally, when inspecting schools, called out every boy and girl attending a primary school, and inspected them at free gymnastics and deep breathing, and, if necessary, addressed the teachers on the subject as well. (3.) Weekly physical-culture classes for teachers have been conducted by the Department's Instructors at Blenheim, Masterton, Hastings, and Wanganui, which were largely attended, and especially by female teachers. (4.) Teachers' training corps have been formed at the normal colleges in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Here the prospective Junior Cadet officer receives instruction in free gymnastics and deep breathing, as well as military drill. I consider that in future more attention ought to be paid to the physical instruction of the Junior Cadets (twelve to fourteen years of age), and not only them, but that of every boy and girl attending primary schools irrespective of age. In my opinion, the boy, youth, or growing man of New Zealand will get enough of military drill proper between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five in the Senior Cadets and Territorials. What is now wanted in primary schools in New Zealand is a system which would combine " character-formation " —such as General Baden-Powell's Boy Scout training embodies —and physical development, and perhaps a little simple military drill and miniature-range shooting. In Sweden and Switzerland such subjects are nationalized and are made compulsory, and there is no reason why something of the kind might not be done in New Zealand.

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Results of Competitions for Shields, Cups, and Medals for 1911. All rifle-shooting (class firing) at primary schools is now done on miniature ranges of from 15 to 25 yards with miniature rifles. The type of range most generally in use at schools is the Hazard Perfect .Target, with B.S.A. air-rifles at 15 yards. The other type of range is the 25 yards miniature range on which -22" Winchester miniature rifles are used with short black-powder cartridges. The following are the winners of the various shooting trophies offered by Government and leading citizens for competition between primary schools in the North and South Islands during the past year : — North Island Government Challenge Shield. Score. Rotorua .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . 45-03 South Island Government Challenge Shield. Timaru South . . . . .. . . .. . . . . 56-04 " Weekly Press " Shields. North Island— Paeroa District High School .. . . . . . . .. 52-01 South Island— Tokomairiro District High. School . . . . .. . . 50-08 Wanganui National Defence Shield. Ashburton .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49-08 Champion Belt. Corporal A. Maxwell, Makaraka School . . .. .. 89 " Star "and Graphic" Shield (known as the "Brett"). Kamo School . . . . .. . . .. .. .. 48-07 Medals with " Star and Graphic " Shield. Sergeant Rae Mitchell, Cadet Reginald Scott, Cadet William Scott, Cadet Ronald Crawford, Cadet Albert Andrews, Cadet Victor Taylor, Cadet Instane Wakelin, Cadet Fred Fuljames, Cadet Douglas Drever, Cadet William Crawford. Colonial Ammunition Company's Cups. Auckland and Hawke's Bay — ' Score. Sergeant Ohaki Potal, Rangitukia (Native School) . . .. 79 Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington— Colour-Sergeant H. Harrison, Queen's Park (Wanganui). . . . 85 Nelson, Marlborough, Grey, and Westland— Cadet Neil Wylie, St.' Albans (Christchurch) . . . . . . .. 83 Southland and Otago— Sergeant I. Stewart, Palmerston South .. .. . . 83 North Canterbury Public Schools Carnival. I was privileged last December to be present and witness the North Canterbury Public Schools Athletic Carnival at Christchurch, and to watch about 3,000 public-school children of all ages doing massed Swedish drill, club-swinging, and dumb-bell work. The spectacle was most impressive, and reflected the utmost credit on all concerned. At the conclusion of the athletic contests I reviewed nearly 1,500 Junior Cadets, and was well satisfied with what I saw. If more of these athletic carnivals could be held by means of State aid the nationalization of the physical-improvement movement at public schools, which I have outlined, would go ahead faster. Equipment. It is estimated that there is £27,000 worth of equipment, Junior Cadet uniforms (officers and Cadets), and other Government property —such as miniature ranges, shooting trophies, goods in store and on the sea, ammunition in magazines, &c.—now in possession of the Junior Cadet Department. During the past year 10,000 sets of Junior Cadet uniforms (including jersey, Glengarry cap, belt, and haversack) have been issued, and it is estimated that 20,000 Junior Cadets are now in uniform throughout New Zealand. There is £625 worth of equipment on order from England through the High Commissioner's Office. Four wholesale manufacturing firms in New Zealand have during the past year had orders for Junior Cadet officers' and Junior Cadets' uniforms, &c, placed with them, valued at £2,232. Junior Cadet property consisting of 878 -310 Westley-Richards rifles and 683,000 rounds of -310 ammunition and spare parts were sold to the Defence Department on the authority of Cabinet for £2,165, and there are still over 200 -310 Westley-Richards rifles in addition on loan to the Defence Department. The amount paid by the Junior Cadet Department in insurance against loss or damage of equipment belonging to public-school corps and kept in school buildings during year 1910-11 was £99. There was no loss of equipment from fire or any other cause, and in this respect the year 1910-11 furnishes a record.

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SCHEDULE. Details of Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1912. Voted. Expended, (f.) Salaries— £ s. d. £ s. d. Commandant of Cadets . . .. . . . . • . . 470 0 0 Staff Officer .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 0 One clerk at £225, one Storeman and Armourer at £193 . . 418 0 0 Nine Staff Sergeant-major Instructors at £160 .. .. 1,440 0 0 Typiste .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 0 0 2,653 0 0 2,557 0 0 Other Charges for and incidental to — 2. Arms and accessories, ammunition, equipment, uniforms, model rifles, prizes, engraving, insurance, books, office requisites, stores, &c. .. .. .. .. 3,800 0 0 4,324 0 0 3. Camps of training and courses of instruction .. .. 300 0 0 328 0 0 4. Fares and allowances of officers, Instructors and Cadets (including drill-pay) .. .. .. .. 200 0 0 348 0 0 5. Rifle ranges, construction, repairs, rents, targets, sheds, and incidental expenses.. .. .. .. .. 1,250 0 0 1,348 0 0 6. Store rent (nine months at £50 per annum) .. .. 37 0 0 37 0 0 7. Travelling expenses and allowances .. .. .. 100 0 0 97 0 0 8. Contingencies, including unforeseen expenditure incidental to the other items of the vote .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 8,390 0 0 9,039 0 0 Less estimated credits under section 48 of the Public Revenues Act, 1910 .. .. .. .. 2,200 0 0 2,526 0 0 £6,190 0 0 £6,513 0 0 I have, &c, A. C. C. Stevens, Captain, Staff Officer for Junior Cadets.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (2,000 copies), £3.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington. -1912.

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