DRILL OR NOT DRILL?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1684, 26 February 1913, Page 7

DRILL OR NOT DRILL?

FREE PLACE SCHOLARS

MR, A. W. HOGG'S IDEA OF THINGS.

Disoussion took place at yesterday's mooting of tho Education Hoard over n letter received from tlw Education Department, dealing with tfio position of free-place and scliolarship holders and tho defenco scheme. Tho communication stated that, 1 as among tho large number of hoys who olitain freo places and scholarships granted from tho funds of tho State there aro probably somo who declino or fail to carry out tho obligations imposed upon them under the Defence Act, in tho opinion of tho Department tho conduct ot a freeplaco pupil should not be held to bo satisfactory unless the requirements of tho defence regulations wore observed l , Tho letter was signed by Mr. J, Andeiv£on, Acting-Inspect'or-Gbneral . of., Schools. Mr. A. W. Hogg said that ho would liito to enter a strong protest against tho Department's suggestion. Ho said that tho defence authorities had been imposing punishment after punishment oil tho young people of this country for violation of tho defenco regulations. All through tho country thoro was a growing feeling that tho defenco regulations wero going to ba an infernal nuisance. Settlors were complnining of tho lingo cost of the scliemo. ' Somo two years ago the defenco vote was .£205,000, and now it was donblo. that 1 amount—.£-150,001f[ In addition,'thero was nnother X 200.000 for the Dreadnought, ; .and over ,£IOO,OOO. was duo for naval subsidy. In all, this meant that 'something '. like.-£650,000 would have to bo found.- ■ This huge sum was too great for a small country liko New Zealand. Continuing, : Mr. Hogg said that there were only aljout 200,000 persons in tho Dominion who wero ' wage-earners. This meant a tax of jC.I or .« per head on each adult. Xlierfe \yas a ' great *deal of oxtravaganco in regard to salaries paid; with respcct to defence officers. There were 17 New Zealand , officers at Homo who wero: drawing salaries from <£300 to ,£750 a year. . Colonel ■Robin .was drawing £750 a year, and in addition, to tlmt — ' Mv. Allen rose to a point of order, Mr. Hogg mentioned that ho was just about to finish. lie .mid that thero was a feeling rapidly growing that the time 1 was coming when military training would give way to enforced Ho mentioned a fettler who - had told him (tho speaker) that all his men had'been summonsed for not complying- with tlio : defenco regulations. About 80 young men i had suffered in the sanVe'way at Oamnru. 41 present there was a sort of strike at ■Greymonth amongst the young .fellows there. f These offenders were liable to.be disfranchised.., 'Now these young, fellows ! wero go-ing to bo debarred from continu--1 insr thc.ir, Education, unless they complied with tho defence regulations. 'Why, this country will soon not bo a fit place for i any young follow," concluded tho speaker; i Mr. Aitken moved, and , Mr/ Allen. - seconded, that tho letter bo received. This was carried. v■ , > I Mr. Hogg then moved that. the 'matter.-* I bo referred to (lie Financo Committed for a report—Carried. . ; v I . ■ :' ■.