AN ODD SUGGESTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 902, 23 August 1910, Page 5

AN ODD SUGGESTION.

CADETS AND COMPULSORY TRAINING. "IT IS TIME WE PUT A STOP TO THIS." According to tho Junior Cadot Department, an individual who is not a tcachcr liable for military training 'in the general training section under tho Defence Act of 1909 may escape his obligations in that respect by drilling junior cadets for ono hour per week. This odd suggestion was conveyed to tho Petono Borough Council in a letter from the Department in amplification of a previous suggestion—which evoked a protest at the time—that a member of the council's staff should bo permitted to absent himself from the office on Friday mornings to drill tho local cadets:—

"In acknowledging your favour of August 8, re Mr. Thomas Bolton, whose services I regret you are not able to spare on each Friday for drill purposes with junior cadets, I have the honour to point out that ' this Department's request of July 13 last was only in keeping, with the Defence Regulations, 1909, for Thomas Bolton, being 19 years of age, if not exempted from services as a jnnior cadet officer (Regulations for Junior Cadets 37, Clause 5), is liable for military service in tho General Training Section, in which he may bo required by law to undergo 18 drills and 7 days' consecutive training in, camp (vide Dofence Act, 1909, Section 35). It was with a view to considering Mr. Bolton's best interests and your Department's convenience J also * that this purely Departmental request was made. (Sgd.) "A. C. C. STEPHENS, "Staff Officer." Councillor Southgate protested. "Surely the regulations have not become so rigid as to compel the council to let ono of our officials attend theso drills? I thinlc it is time we put a stop to this. (Hear, hear.) Wo should apply for exemption from the cadets, and let him drill with the adult corps at night when tho time comes. .

"Then you will have to let him off for a week to go into camp,"' observed another speaker." S ,

Someone else said ■ that New Zealand would have to do as other countries, and hold the compulsory camps during the holidays. The letter was received. I