"NOTHING DOING."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 6

"NOTHING DOING."

CADETS AND "PASSIVE RESISTERS." Contrary to expectations, the parade of tho senior cadet company at the Lower Itutt—the first siuce the fracas ; which occurred in tho Knox Church Schoolroom, when hymn-books and ink-pots wero thrown about, and the parade brought to an abrupt termination—passed off very quietly (it the local drill-hall last evening, when 59 cadets were sworn in. When the doors were opened at half-past seven, tliero was a fairly big crowd of youths waiting out on the road, and at first sight it looked as if there was going to be trouble. For a minute or two there was no response to tho summons to fall in; then some half a dozen or so detached themselves from the crowd and went into tho hall. These were followed by in«jst of the others, till at last there remained only a small group of "passive resistors" out oil the road, who contented themselves with indulging in some cheap wit at the subject of ■compulsory military training. Captain Robinson (senior cadet staff officer for the district) got into'.conversation, with this group, and succeeded in inducing some of the youths to listen to reason, with the result thrit the "passive resjsters" were reduced to some fonr or five youths, whose air of braggadocio proclaimed their style, and these, with several older youths who were either oyer the age or belonging to some other corps, had come along in expectation of a disturbance, remained outside the hall. A representative of The Dominion who was present got into conversation with oue or two of them and asked them whv they objected to playing the game. "1 don't feel like it," said oue of them. ."You'll have to do it sooner or later, you know," said the reporter. ' "And what if I don't, eh?" he said. "Five pounds or fourteen days." "I'll do the fourteen days," decided the "passive resistor." "That won't get you out of drill, you know." "Won't it?" "Oh, no." Tho "passive resister" developed a fresh line of argument. "I don't believe in this oath business," lie objected. "Why?" "They can do what they like with vou then." "Nonssnse!" "Anyhow, -I ain't goin' in," he said. Finally, the door of tho drill-hall was closed. "We're been patient with you feilows quite long enough now," they were informed. "Aro you coming in?" There was no movement until the door wa.s just closing. Then apprehension seized two of them, and they slipped into tho hall. The door closed, and the "passive resistors" were left out in the dark, in the comforting presence of the three policemen. They thei decided that there was "nothing doing," and went away. After an hour's good drilling, together with a sensible lecture on the future of their general deportment and good conduct, the cadets were dismissed. There was also a parade at the hall of the Jlutt Territorial Company,.under Captain Ross, there being a good attendance.