SCHOOL CADET CAMPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 440, 24 February 1909, Page 3

SCHOOL CADET CAMPS.

INCREASED GRANT ASKED FOR. ' .' ,THE MINISTER DECLINES.. : . Some time.ago the Education: Department intimated to Education Boards that, the' Government was prepared' to' assist, financially,''the holding of camps,- of instruction ,'for school oadets. The conditions"set forth',that;,the.Government would concede railway fares' up to a distance of 20 miles, and grant ari '.allowance of 3s. Od. per capita for .six days provided that not less than 200 cadets went into camp, .or,, in the .case of a battalion having .'it''roll strength under 200; a minimum of 150; camp'equipment, as far as possible, would be supplied, all damage to $uch equipment to be made good; a' ;staff-instructo'r would be supplied by the Defence Department;' and • every i proposal to hold a'camp is to be submitted to the Minister for approval. -

• At its meeting in January last, the Wellington Education Board decided, on the initiation of Captain. T. W. M'Donald, to approaches Minister for Education,(Hon. G, Fowlds) with reference to an increase in the'grant.up to Is per capita per-day. 'The matter was introducec to 'the Minister at the conclusion of oussion in connection with the Hntt schools question;' yesterday.', afternoon!but.; Mr. Fowlds, declined to entertain the suggestion. Captain' MDonald reviewed the conditions' outlined by the Government, and urged'that the allowance be' increased. The value, both to the cadets and their teachers, of a week in camp was very great. .The Minister, in reply, said that.'the-Gov-ernment had a right to expect that the Board would assist' it in resisting increases in expenditure. There was no hope of any such increase as was .suggested being granted. All that the children were asked to pay was , 6d. each, dud he was sure that it cost parents more than .that to. keep individuals boys for a week,