BOY SCOUT DUTY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2268, 30 September 1914, Page 7

BOY SCOUT DUTY

AFFECTS SCHOOL, ATTENDANCE.

Tho military duty which has been done recently, by the Boy Scouts was mentioned at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday by the chairman (the' Hon. J. G. W. Aitken). Ho pointed out that the attendance at some of tho schools had naturally suffered. Mr. W. Allan: Is it not possible to arrange that boys' on military duty should get attendance marks? It eeema unfair that the school should have to suffer while the boys are doing military duty.

Mr. Aitken: I am afraid there is no provision made for it , in tho Act. Mr. Allan: These boys havo done very good work.

Mr. Aitkan: We will look into the matter, and see what can bo done.

"Whatever else the war may teach us, it hao brought homo to everyonethe_ supremo importance of compulsory military training (says the Calcutta "Englishman"). That tho losson has not been thrown away_ has nowhere been so plainly shown as in Calcutta, whoro tho number of 'recruits in the various volunteer corps has been going, up by leaps nad bouuds, and if recruiting continues at the present rate, within a very short] time everyone entitled to bear arms in the dofence of the Empire will belong to one or other of tho vol. unteer corps. Cakmtta has risen fcobly to the occasion. It promises to do its duty as the second city in tho Empire." Readers are reminded of Dr. Sheldon's lecture in the Town Hall, Concert Chamber, the' subject being "Prohibition in Kansas." His Worship tho Mayor will preside. Petono Municipal Band held its annual smoke concert last evening, the Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presiding. The Ranfurly Halj was crowdod. Messrs. Eades, Minifie, and Ayison rendered a tuneful trio, and other items wore delivered by Messrs. Martin, Harvey, and Delahunty. Messrs. Lockyer and Simpson sang a topical patriotic duet (composed by Mr A, E. Wright).