AN INTERESTING REQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1584, 30 October 1912, Page 4

AN INTERESTING REQUEST.

SCHOOL INSPECTOR FOR MILITARY < DUTY. Tho Wellington Education Board hae been asked by tho General Officer Commanding tho Now Zealand Forces, to allow Mr. A. B. Charters, of the board's school inspection staff, to retain tho command of the Second Battalion of the Oth (Wei. lington Bast Coast) Regiment, New Zealand Infantry, which ho resigned when promoted to the-inspectoralo from his previous appointment as. headmaster of the Greytown District High School. In n letter from General Headquarters, read at tho board's meeting yesterday, it was pointed out that LieufcColonol Charters was a very valuable territorial officer, and ns competent senior officers were rather few in numbor, ho could ill be spared. When tho letter was' read yesterday, memlwrs were rather disposed against the idea of allowing ono of their inspectors time off to attend tho annual training camp, in addition to undertaking tho responsibilities and routine duties of a bat. talion commander, which, it was pointed out, were- by no means light. Replying to tho arguments of Mr. Wm< Allan and Mr. A. W., Hogg against the granting of the request,' the chairman,(Mr. Robert Lee) said that from certain points of viow it might bo a good thing if Sir. Charters were allowed to rejoin his bafc. talion. The board had always been keenly interested in the training of cadets, and was bo still. ,

"Tho dcfenco scheme is interwoven witK our system, of education," said Mr. Leo, "and in his capacity as a commanding officer, Mr. Charters would, no doubt, be ■of service, to the. board. A great many of our own teachers are territorial and cadet officers." ' On tlio motion of Mr. Hogf, it was 8m ally referred to the chairman, the secre* tary (Mr. G. L. Stewart), and Mr. Fleming (chief inspector) to deal with tho matter, after further inquiry as to the possible extent to. which Mr. Charters'e duties as a commanding officer in tho Territorial' army might encroach upon his time and energy as a school inspector.