THE CAPTAIN AND THE MAJOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1187, 24 July 1911, Page 4

THE CAPTAIN AND THE MAJOR.

TEACHERS' JOURNAL SEVERELY CRITICAL. The official journal of the New Zealand Educational Institute ("The' -C.Z. Journal of Education"), in its latest issue publishes the full text of the resolution which was adopted by the Executive Committee, of the Institute, after investigating-the complaint forwarded to it by the Wellington District Branch in connection with tho recent trouble between Captain E. H. 13allaclicy (officer commanding the Lower Hiitt. District High School Cadet;-) and Major T. \V. M'Donald ((Commandant of the iN.Z. Junior Cadets). It reads ns follow:— "That this executive respectfully draws Iho attention cf the Minister for liducation to tlie fact that the Wellington Education Board having requested the District Educational lnsli-

lute to discuss a scheme of physical drill submitted by the Commandant of Cadets, tliut officer has reyvoved u member of the institute for exercising his undoubted right to freedom of speech, it right which has hitherto never been called into question. It begs t'3 record its emphatic protest against the Commandant's unwarrantable action, and requests the Minister io take such stops as will prevent any repetition of such action." In an editorial article dealing with what is described as "an unusual and unpleasant affair," and also an "assault on the libertics of the institute so outrageous" as to warrant the action of the executive in forwarding the above resolution to thi Minister, the "Journal of Education" slates, apropos of the- charge against Major M'Donald of having unwarrantably suspended Captain Ballachey (senior captain of his battalion) on the occasion of Major Belhune's absence from parade:— "This is ' a question of military etiquette, and is only mentioned here becauss (X'raiingly it forms a link in a chain of events that all lead to one conclusion— that tho Commandant resented any criticism of his proposals, and straightway proceeded to show his displeasure by a petty and altogether undignified attitude towards one who happened to bo the mouthpiece of his fellow-teachers. We hold tho resolution in question to have been an entirely wise one. Not every 'slafl-porgeant-drill-iiistruetor' could by any stretch of tho imagination be considered a qualified and suitable conductor of teachers' training clsi.ws—especially if Ihe class were one for lady teachers. V.'e believe every teacher will endorse the rrsolution as it appears in the executive's report." ___________