CADETS’ DISPLAY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 205, 25 May 1921, Page 6

CADETS’ DISPLAY

PHYSICAL TRAINING AT THE TOWN HALL

AN ATTRACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT Some 200 Cadet n.c.o.’s, who have just completed a fortnight’s training at Trentham Camp gave a display in th# Town Hall last night, under the auspices of the National Defence League. The Cadets have been drawn from, secondary schools throughout the Dominion, and they are to go back to their units now prepared to impart the instruction that they have received. Tho display was under the direction, of Captain A. W. Brock, M.C., chief instructor in physical training, and the audience included the Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) and the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr). The CalTefs were brought from Trentham by special train, and they marched through the city to the Town Hall with tho band of the Ist Battalion. Wellington Regiment. The proceeds of the entertain-

ment were in aid of the club that is being established Iby fte Wellington branch of tho Defence League for the benefit of Territorials and Cadets. The display commenced with an exhibition of vaulting over 4ho wooden "horse,” tho Cadets giving abundant

proof of their possession of limber muscles and sound physical condition. Massed exercises on the lines laid down in the ordinary Cadet syllabus followed. The Cadets performed a series of com-

plicated evolutions in a musical march with admirable precision, and then went through the physical exercises of the training manual. These exercises are intended to cultivate alertness of mind as well as fitness of the body, and the accitr.-icy and promptness wf the boys’ response to every order was proof of the benefit derived from the training. Marching and jumping exercises were varied with some of the games that became familiar to tens of thousands of New Zealanders in the training camps during the war. These games intended primarily to give variety to the recruits, daily exercise, provide lots of entertainment for the spectator, and last night’s audience enjoyed them thoroughly. A basket-ball competition. North Island versus South Island, provided ten minutes’ excitement. Basket-ball is regarded by the instructional staff as a particularly valuable game for Cadets, since it combines strenuous exercise in a confined space with some of the good features of football. A keenly-faught contest resulted in a win for the North Island team by 3 points to 2. A squad boxing lesson was the next feature of the programme. Twenty Cadets followed an instructor through the elementary hits and counters, and managed to convey an impression that there was plenty of “ginger" available for ten willing bouts if the opportunity had offered. A selection of competitive and brainstimulating exercises, including "Siamese Twins," “O’Grady Says,” and a foursided tug-of-war, were followed by parallel bar stunts. The concluding item on the programme was a tabloid sports meeting. There were four teams of eight Cadet s each, and the events were high jump, long jump, potato race, putting tlie shot, and relay race. A standard was set in each event, and each Cadet who attained the standard counted one mark for his side. The first faun events proceeded 'simultaneously and the relay race followed, the meeting being completed within fifteen minutes. The result, a win for Wellington with Auckland second, was announced within : a few seconds of the completion of the last event.

During the evening Mr. J. P. Firth read an apology for absence from MajorGeneral Sir Edward Chaytor, who spoke appreciatively of the response of the Senior Cadets to the training. Mt. Firth said that the exhibition represented the result of thirteen days’ work at Trentham camp under a highly efficient training staff. It was work that all New Zealand's youths should do. The effect of the training on the physique and health of the boys was extraordinarily good. The National Defence League had been formed to arouse public opinion on the question of defence, nnd to support the Territorials and Cadets in their performance of the duty imposed upon them. The league had planned the establishment in Wellington of a soldiers’ club, where Territorials and Cadets could have their social halls, lecture rooms and gymnasium,. The scheme deserved public support. New. Zealand should not make the mistake of neglecting its soldiers in time of peace, and the young men who were being trained to-day deserved all the support the public could give them. At the close of tho programme, the Minister of Education moved a vote of thanks to those responsible for the display. He spoke with warm appreciation of the training that was being given to the Cadets by Captain Brock and the staff under him. He would be glad to see every boy in New Zealand receiving the same training. He held the • strongest conviction that no education system was worthy of the name unless it gave pride of place to the development of health and vigour. The Cadet training was producing the right kind of boys, and he felt that New Zealand had to be congratulated on having the services of Captain Brock. Tho Minister of Defence also spoke briefly. He said that he would like all parents' to see what wn« being done for the hoys by the instructional staff. The Cadets were deriving the greatest benefit from the training, which was specially designed to produce physical fitness and good citizenship. The proceedings closed with the National Anthem.