SOLDIERS' EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 61, 6 December 1918, Page 3

SOLDIERS' EDUCATION

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS FULL RESPONSIBILITY GENERAL RUSSELL'S GENEROSITY The education of the soldier is a subjeot which the public is to hear a good deal of in the future. The matter cropped up at yesterday's meeting of tho Advisory Board of the New Zoaland Patriotic War Relief Societies in tho form of letters from the Hawko's Bay Society which read as follows:— "November 21. "Doar Sir—Mr. T. iAlason Chambers, president of this association, has just received tho following cablegram from General Russell:—'Plea.se iirj;e -on Ministry need of qonorous financial sunnort N.Z.E.F. education scheme. Estimate at least £50,000 in addition to scholarships. Immediate decision necessary, otherwise scheme endangered. Expect good results, increased efficiency of individual, and benefit to State. If Ministry 'refuse will personally subscribe if J!50,000 available by Christmas.' As this requires immediate attention, Mr. Chambers has asked me to request your board to take steps to bring tho matter beforo 'the Government as toon as- possible. In the event of your board not meeting for sonio time, will you ulenso consult with your chairman and ask him to kindly act in tho matter. I enclose cablegram referred to. (Sjkl.) H. J. Russell, secretary.

A second letter, dated November 29. read:—"l am in receipt of your letter EF/M. dated 2fith inst., and thank yon for placing General Russell's cablegram before Sir James Allen, also for the information yon give. Mr. Chambers forwarded your letter and telegram to me, and at his request I sent the following cablegram to General Russell:— 'Vanquisher, London. Cable rpeeived. Ministry in communication General Richardson, with whom confer. Joint report will have great weifrht. (fed.) Jtawn Chambers.' You will probablv have received some information on the subject by the time the Advisory Board meets on December 5. (Sgd.) H. J. Russoll, secretary."

'The letters were forwarded to Pit.Tamos Allen, who (on November 30) wrote:—"l have to thank you tor your letter of 2flth with copy of cablesrram reoeive'l hy Mr. Mason Chambers from General Rus=ell. I do not ihinlc it newsoary for Mr. Mason Chambers to

tak» any action, ik Hin Government ! "'- penfa full rpsnonsibility for education sMvpmp" wMp.li fir« ivmrovpd'. (Sgd.) J. Allen, Minister of Defence."