A.—6b

6

I must also take this opportunity of bringing under your notice the manner Captain Burlinson and his cadets (Caversham Industrial School) worked in assisting towards the comfort of the other cadets in various ways; as also for the manner in which they collected and looked after Government property, as this was placed in their keeping. This corps and its band formed the guard of honour to His Eoyal Highness at the Agricultural Hall on Monday, the 24th June. The band played well, and reflects great credit on its instructor. A meeting of officers took place on Monday evening for the purpose of making certain suggestions for the consideration of the Government, a copy of them having been sent, I believe, to the Hon. Mr. Walker, C.M.G., as to the fostering, &c, of the movement. I enclose a copy. Copy of Minutes of a Meeting of Officers held at the Normal School Camp, Christchurch, on the 24th June, 1901. Motions carried by about forty officers, representing all New Zealand provinces except Auckland:— 1. That the meeting be held to discuss suggestions in connection with a primary-school cadet system. 2. That the system be under the Education Department, and be carried out on military lines. 3. That officers be granted substantive commissions on passing a prescribed examination. 4. That officers be granted some remuneration while in command. 5. That the attendant motions be forwarded direct to the Minister of Education. 6. That the primary-school cadet force be divided into districts. 7. That there be annual camps for districts. 8. That suitable weapons be provided for shooting. 9. That there be capitation for corps. F. A. Hemplbman, Hon. Sec. With a view of giving each cadet who proceeded to Christchurch a souvenir of the event, the following brigade order was issued, printed in a suitable manner on fancy cards: — The Normal School, Christchurch, 26th June, 1901. Brigade Order by Captain L. W. Loveday, Commanding the Brigade of Cadets. The Officer Commanding has much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficient manner in which all ranks under his command fulfilled their respective duties. Also to the manner in which the non-commissioned officers and privates conducted themselves when off duty, their behaviour being the cause of great praise from those who saw them when out of their quarters. It is also satisfactory to know that no breaches of discipline had to be dealt with. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York was pleased to express the great pleasure and satisfaction it gave him to be enabled, from his personal observation, to bear testimony to the manner in which the brigade marched past at the review on the 24th instant, and he directed the Officer Commanding the Brigade to convey the same to all ranks. This he now does, and feels proud of the honour he had in commanding the brigade on such an auspicious occasion. A copy of this order will be forwarded to the Right Hon. the Defence Minister for his infor■mation. By order. W. Wood, Lieut.-Colonel, Brigade Major. Seeing the success which has attended your scheme, and knowing that there is a general feeling both among the officers of the State schools and other cadet corps, I take the opportunity of making the following suggestions for your consideration should you decide upon fostering the movement hereafter :— 1. Military drill should be compulsory at all the State schools. 2. A system of organizing cadet corps should be established, and, where practicable, these should form companies of battalions, with full complement of officers, &c. 3. The school cadets should be armed with the model rifles for drill purposes only. A number of School Committees, I find, object to the present condition on which the model rifles are issued, the objection being that School Committees are held liable for any damage done, considering this being beyond their province. If the rifles were not allowed to be taken away, but stored and looked after, the present difficulty might be overcome. 4. With a view to training these cadets a percentage of miniature Martini-Henry rifles or '303 carbines and ball ammunition might be procured for target-practice purposes. 5. With the exception of a sufficient number of waist-belts and ammunition-pouches for ballfiring, no other accoutrements would be required. It would, however, make a finish to the uniforms if waist-belts were isssued, as also haversacks, on account of their utility in many ways. 6. A general cheap and serviceable uniform should be adopted for all State school cadets, whatever the pattern may be"; but uniformity in this respect should be insisted upon, districts being designated in some manner to be decided on. 7. Commissions should be granted to the required number of teachers forming companies of, say, not less than fifty rank and file, but only where such officers had passed the School of Instruction at Wellington; and such officers' qualifications should further be recognised by an annual personal allowance of, say, from £10 to £20, according to the number of boys drilled by them. Thus uniformity in drill would be established, and the Government would have the services of qualified instructors at the schools at a comparatively small cost to the State. A cheap uniform should also be adopted for the officers. 8. A manual for the use of State schools should be published and sold at cost price. 9. Encouragement should be given to form battalion bands —either military or brass.