SOLDIERS' EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16432, 28 January 1919, Page 6

SOLDIERS' EDUCATION.

THE N.Z.E.F. SCHEME. At yesterday's meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, the following letter from Colonel Hugh Stewart (who prior to enlisting was Professor of Classics at Canterbury Colege) was read: "Wo now look forward to n comparatively early peace, demobilisation, and return to Now land. As you probably know, demobilisation will proceed on the basis of length oi servioe, i.e., tho Main Body to return first, and so on; but militdry requirements necessitate the staying on ot a number of senior officers (most of whom bolong to the Main Body) beyond the date on which, under the demobilisation scheme, they are duo to sail. It is, therefore, improbable that I shall be able to got back at onco. '•Also we aro inaugurating an educational schtnne on compulsory lines for the wholo of the X.Z.E.F.. partly vocational, and partly in general education subjects. This scheme will be enforced during tho demobilisation period, anil on board transports. Its primary objects are twofold: firstly to occupy the men's minds, and so conduce to the maintenance of discipline, and an orderly and contented discharge; secondly, to help men to re-loarn their old occupations or learn new ones, and so load to the efficiency of tho individual and incroaso productive power in the State, llut we also feel that wo have unrivalled opportunities for inculcating some measure of knowledge and the principles of economies and civics. Wo nro making instruction in these subjects a central feature of the scheme and compulsory for everyone. The New Zoaland Government has been asked to grant £50,000 for the purpose (the cost of less than two days of \?ar, I understand, but still a large sura); and if tho scheme is a success, to ensure which every effort will bo made, New Zealand will get full value for tho money. I hare boon specially asked to run* the scheme, and, in view of tho importance of the work, I trust that tho Board of Governors will approve of my staying on, possibly a month or so later than I could in all probability actually manage to get. away. In a 6ense, of course, it is an advertisement for the College. I should not ask for any extended leave. Should the Board cfecido, however, that it is absolutely necessary for mo to return at the very earliest opportunity. I should, of course, comply with thoir wishes, important as I believe the duties of tho Director of Education, N.Z.E.F, to be, and though: there would bo actually some difficulty in finding a substitute. It is obviously my duty to lot you know the position without delay. I need not say how anxious I am to Tcsumo my college work, but the period involved would not .be considerable, and I believe I could rendpr valuable services to New Zoaland in connexion with the scheme. I therefore trust that tho Board will bo able to see its way to refrain from asking tho Ministor of Defence for my return for part, at least, if not all of the demobilisation period." The matter' was considered in committee, and on tho Board resuminp it .was reported that it had boen decided to grant the extra leave required.