CADET FRIAR'S RETURN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 402, 11 January 1909, Page 4

CADET FRIAR'S RETURN.

BOYS' EMPIRE MATCHES. (by TELEaiurn—ruEsa Association.) Auckland, January 10.' Colour-Sergeant Win. Friar, of the One* hunga High School Cadets, who .has been competing in tho English Cadets' riflo shooting meetings, returned home 'to-day, vfa Sydne.v, hy tho s.s. -Wimmcra. Ho was successful with the riflo, being second in each contest ho competed in, the Lady Gwendolen 'Guinness Cup and tho Choylesmore Cup. He was presented by Lord Roberts with a high-grade Winchester rille, and by the London School Cadets, on behalf of his corps, with a Union Jack, tearing tho inscription "Loyal New Zealand." Cadet Friar, who is an observant boy or 15 years, states that' 1 Lord Roberts has issued an invitation for a team* of ten New Zealand boys to go to England this year, and has alsa suggested ,that an, international cadet rifle competition bo held annually,, to," be fired in the different countries. V/HAT COLOUR-SERCEANT-FRIAR HAS DONE. /,.' 'THE "IMPERIAL PURPOSE". OF HIS' V ;-./r.,-\ ';■....' "' VISIT.,; VYC .'" The. doings in Great' '.Britain lpf- ; Cadet Colour-Sergeant Friar have, been'placed on record in an 'interesting.', letter "'■ to:-'•". "The 1 Times" by Mr. R. J. E. Hanson (no'n. .secretary Lord Robprts's Trophy), who'-'writes: "Now, that the official,visit of Cadet. Col-our'-Sergoant. Friar (New Zealand \ Publio School; Cadets) has come to an end, I'should like, with your permission,, to I 'give -some-ac-count of this lad's stay ; in the MptheriConhtry, of "tiie purpose of ;his visit, and; tT?e..pro» bablei-result; '~.'■,' .' ':■■:■'" ';:,.'■"'■'-'■' ■-.'•';'; ■ "The Dominion: Government officially:del* gated Cadet Friar : to'represent:itbe; 15,000 P.S.' cadets/of'..Now'; Zealand as "their i best marksman. and, to . beVthe: guest, -of the .'•City. of primary schoolboy - marksmen ■ atBisley this summer^;-.. Shortly after his •ar-; rival he was welcomed by tho Lord■'Mayor,'-,'; the Chairman of the .London County-Council, Lord .Roberts,'- Lord Meath| Lord- Cheyles-' morej'a'nd tho Secretary, of State' for/War.-. '■: "Hospitality has been offered him from all sides, but ■ his age and the physical - training needed to; prepare him for the various -.riflo' ; matches, for J which he had; entered-necesi sitated a .quiet ami careful course of training, which he has had, at Bisley and elsewhere.-, v- , i"He has well maintained : the reputation; of-. New. Zealand schoolboy; marksmen, /and has shot well and/consistently during his six weeks' stay with us; He 'took second place in the competition for the Lady Gwendolen Guinness's trophy (.308.rifle), one point only behind the winner. -He tied with four other boys , for ; the •' Che'ylesmore Cup (.22 rifle, rapid-firing-contest), and in the .-'re-snoot';' again obtained second'place, r makihg a very : fine record.'.' : -';:.- -i'-,^-' : : '■-'-'' ■" .', "The object of his visit is not, however,; fully described .'by ~ a reoitation of results obtained upon the ranges. The visit has anlmpenal purppse-rnamely, to link up. all boys,-; at .home and in -the oversea possessions," by inviting. representative - schoolboys, to' come eachiyeftf: to'the. Mother Country .and. to join hands with our boys at home on the,ranges. and in the playing fields; _v \ : V "/-.'■-.• .;. .."Moreover",. such,' a visit- foreshadows the 'early introductibn'of a 'universal and uniform; system of '.cadet; training-, throughout; the' Empiro. : : A school cadets', system should be introduced f6r the younger- (primary) schoolboys, followed by-a somoT cadets' system sor the .working boyß,' controlled by the education: authorities,- in consultation;:with -the military training departments of the: various defence bodies throughout the Empire.' Such a. system is. proving efficient■/and -successful in' Natal and New? Zealand.'. ■":..-; . ' "A- sure foundation for. a: national, army will result! rA healthy and happy /boyhood, improved "in ;. charactor, intelligence, and physique,: will readily-, spare'];from-its manly ranks the proportion ■: or citizen soldiers necessary 'tp'inn :: thff"'(!a'dres-' : bf: a. genuine citizer army." -.' - : ' -'-- ■ -■'."/ - '-■--■ <■'■':_■;■■:■;■