A TRANSFORMED ARMY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 9

A TRANSFORMED ARMY

EDUCATING THE SOLDIER

WHAT IS BEING DONE IN THE

N.Z.E.F,

,'From Our Own Correspondent,)

London, March 7. Since tho armistice the New Zealand Expeditionary Force iias b;en transformed from an .army of soldiers into an army of instructors and students. The main work of the day is no longer drill and military routine, but education, and this applies both to the depots in England and tho now scanty remains of tho division at Cologne. .A course of four hours a day is compulsory for all. ranks in depot. What that course 6liall bo is largely optional with the individual student, but he must take the . lectures in economics and civics drawn up by. the" Department. Thereafter the training is'mainly vocational, and Major E. H. Northcroft, who 'has just succeeded Colonel Stewart as Director of Education, fells mo that a good fifty per cent, of the men apply for courses in agriculture.

The work of tho N.Z.E.F. Education Department, which has now grown to such an important undertaking with a staff of over 200 rinStructors, had ■ its' origin in the educational work begun by the Y.M.C'.A. in March, 1917, in the hospitals, and especially- at Hprnchurch, At the beginning of 1918, General Richardson took up the matter of-'providing systematic, educational instruction in the force, and a scheme was drawn no at a conference in May. It is claimed that by virtue of the programme then adopted and given, effect to New Zealand became the pioneer in this educational work, which has since been taken up by the Imperial authorities and all the other Dominions.-

The .Artillery Reserve Depot at Ew-' shoti, since closed, was the 'pioneer in the adoption-of the compulsory principle in August, last. . The ;Department was .formed 'by Captain .1, R. Kirk, and-de-veloped by Colonel 11. -Stewart, D.5.0., MX'., Jorinerly professor of classics, at Canterbury College. As mentioned abovo Colonel Stewart-.has now blinded over 1 control to Major NorllierbftJ who has been assistant-director in charge-of the work ill the United - Kingdom. [ The educational scheme falls into three main divisions. First there are . the courses given by our own in tho depots. Secondly, tnu outside courses, mainly post-graduate and vocnlion.il, arranged 10r with many of . the foremcist educational institutions in the kingdom. Thirdly come -the scholarships lor three yews at selected universities under conditions similar, to the .Rhodes Scholarships. ' The scholarship men are discharged from the force, but'give an undertaking to Tetui'ii to New Zealand within- one year of completing their courses, and to remain in the Dominion at least thret- years; otherwise they.arcunder an obligation to refund to, the Government half the value of the scholarship. All tho other students, with the exception of olie small class, rimnin in khaki and return to New '/(mlnnd for discharge ,at the conclusion of their courses. The exceptions referred to are those who are given an -iducational discharge to remain after the. Inst boat. These have to maintain themselves, out have the -right to a free passage to the Dominion,if taken within six months of the departure of the-last troopship. The officers and men taking the outside courses are, for convenience, and •handiness to London, attached to Hurnehtuch' in most cases.

This brief outline sires some idea of the vast- extent of ground now eovercit by the Department. It is by nu means exhaustive, for a word must Ue added about the instruction 'provided on all transports returning to tiie Dominion, inaugurated .in August last. The three boats sailing in January each tunica from five to eight instructors and h standard equipment and library, and similar arrangements are being uuide 111 the case of tiiosc to follow. Word must also bo added of the special instruction provided .for the disabled men, who are very thoroughly:,trained for occupations ,jn which their'disablement is ft 1 relatively small- handicap. '

. Tho Depot, Courses, The courses at the depots l.tdude not. only the compulsory course iu .economics ana civics, but optional training in general .education, agricultural science, engineering .ami allied subjects, architecture and building, commercial Mibjccrs, telegraphy, etc., and also training in' various trades. The training is specialised at the different depot.-) as far as possible.' Torquay, with its admirable farm of which.l will send you a fuller ai.count next week, is naturally the chief ciintre for agricultural instruction, at any "rule in the. practical stages. 'Sling is tUe engineering centre, and Codford specialises in architecture and building. With a continually moving population the work is naturally carried o;i under difficulties. Even so, its moral, and psychological effect is valuable. It is the first step in demobilisation,: for it turns the soldier's thoughts, back lo hi? old occupation. in civil life, .and by the fime he hn-i finished with the depot here and the les3 interrupted course on the transport home, net-ouiy \vill lie have received valuable training, '.but an attitude of mind is likely to have been, developed that will make resettlement far easier. Tho extent of the work-may be gauged

by Hint carried on under the most difficult conditions ot' all—with the Division in the field. With the shrinkage of the force the number of men absorbed for guards,' supply, and administrative duties becomes proportionately greater, and a much smaller percentage is .free for the courses. Bearing this in mind, we find the Division for the week ending February 25 with an average ration strength of 5200. Of this number- 2109 were taking courses as follow .—Economies, 1101; general education, 70; architecture pud building, 103; commerce,. 103; telegraphy, etc., 41;. agriculture, 2-1G; engineering, 823; miscellaneous, 83. This represents the average daily attendance in <v week during which for service reasons the First Brigade was a wash-out educationally for several cays. The work on Iho Continent, is rapidly ending and in his final report on February 28 Colonel Stewart stated that 40 of the 107 instructors employed were being sent across to England for work here 1 . The number of instructor? in England was then 210, and except in economics, where more were required,' was adequate. 1

Training Outside. Th? courses outside the Force comprise mainly post-graduate and advanced vocational training. At first it was intenoed to provide undergraduate courses, but it was decided in the end* that much the best thing to do with the undergraduates was to get them back to New Zealand to continue their interrupted studies as soon as possible at their own original colleges. The scheme provides for short intensive courses up to three months on full pay. with fe.es paid and free railway warrants- from Hornchurcti for students in London, and one month's pay and fees paid ;in the provinces. Courses op to six months, or date of.sailing of last transport, are also allowed in London on full pay, free railway warrants,' i-nd fees paid for three months. When pro-, longed courses are granted extending beyond the sailing , of the last transport, discharge is given under the same conditions as in New Zealand, with guarantee of a return passage at troopship rates up to six months after the last transport leaves. Under this 6cheme teacners ave being given three months u'ndsr the London County Council to obtain an insight mio English educational methods.- Railwayliien are'attached to various railway systems under conditions which enable tnem to gain much experience -n a short time. Electrical'engineers are travelling about nnder the auspices ,ot the General Electric Company, which has arranged a special programme to put t hem in-touch with thp. latest developments here. Civil engineers, feverybotly will be "tad 10-liear. are catered for-by the.lnstitute of Civil Engineers, and are <ievoting much tinio to -studying the latest methods in roadmaking and maintenance, and should return well armed with valuable data for solving ono *if New Zealav.ds most urgent. problems. Architects are also well provided for, and--with them tho University of Liverpool cottrse and that provided by the liqyal. Institution-flf British. Architects are most in demand. Business men are assisted in makug arrangements to attach themselves 'to leading Loudon houses for the period of their day, and the Federation.of British Industries lias Also provided a series of conducted.toifrs, each comprising a dozen or ;o members, which make a thorough, inspection of the methods adopted in the particular industry <iealt with. , , , The lawyers are on a" particularly, good wicket, 'l'lie four Inris of' Court-have thrown their doors opeiv. to them, and tho Law Council has refused to consider any question, of fees. It states that it is only too pleased.to have the opportunity* of being of assistance to any members, ot tho legal profession among the Oversea Forces, and they are to consider themselves its guests." Our lawyers have thus the run-of the finest law school in tho Empire, and are attending, lectures by the leading authorities ol the day. in their special subjects. Much, more could be written- of this sido of the Department's activities did space permit, but enough has been saiu to show how much New Zealand stands to gain by tho admirable work that has been 'put in hand.

1 he Scholarships. 1 take it that the general lines of the scholarship scheme iue iaiujliav in i\ew Zealand. l/nder the Government gram, of ; xIO,OdO. filtj'i scholarships have • Iwen offeredoi at' uninml .value of from J;175 to ii'iO per annum, according .to the university or college selected, and the financial means ot tne scholar. The idea is understood to be that these scholarships will be tenable for three years, but tills is dependent upjn definite, conikmatiun lroni isew Zeaiand that the gwnt oi' j;li),flflo.so generously made will be renewed accordingly. Tne scholars ' are being selected by the Board of Governors of the scheme on very much the same 2>j'inciplc as the Rhodes scholars, are se.eeted. Thirty scholarships were awarded at the end of January, and the allotment of the remaining twenty was considered at a rieeting. held on Ji'ridny last. It wus then decided to keep six scholarships open ponding the receipt of nominations from iigyjit, not yet to mind. Considerable dixculty was tound in mak-ing-a choice among the architectural candidates, and the upshot was' that cloven scholarships were definitely , allocated, <tnd three he'd ovor. Until a final decision is come to the names of the successful candidates, are being withheld. ...

The scholarships are being awarded in agriculture, architecture, ' art, arts, engineoring, forestry. uiediciue, and science, and the candidates-are allowed to select the university or college tliey dfsiro to attend, subject to the approval ot the Board of Governors.

Y.M.C.A. Cooperation. The educational work, bad its otigin with the Y.M.C.A., and that organisation is still closely connected with it, and represented on the board of control. The Education Department has given the Y.M.C.A. every assistance in developing tho excellent arts and; crafts instruction they had provided, and this branchy remains'mainly under their control. Education classes are commonly conducted in Y.M.C.A. huts lent for the purpose, and there is co-operation in many other ways. I have before me a very interesting return showing tho subjects in whic.i members of the force are taking courses, etc., sunder the higher educational scheme. The subjects and the numbers takiii# them are as follow:— Architecture, 13; art, 9; business training, 11 j confmercial subjects, 3; chemistry,, 2; drapery, 1; dentistry, 1; dairy science, 2; engineering, 11; economies, G; 'forming, 3; fniit-faiuiihg, 2; journalism, 2; languages, 3; law, 12; medical, 1; music, ti; mining, 1; navigation, 1; optics, G; printing, 1; photo-engraving, I;pharmacy j 6; photography, 1; .pianoforte manufacturing, 2; painting, 1; stockbreeding, 5; railway experience, 3j students (matriculation), 2; surveying, 1; teaching, 3; tailoring, 2; woolclassinj, 13; woodwork,' 5. Total, 115. The work we are doing in this ; direction begins to attract some attention here, and I notice in yesterday's "Daily Jla.il" a picture of Lance-Corporal 'Bornman, in Xew Zealand uniform, teaching a class •at Fairliold lioad School, Bow and Bromley.