EARL ROBERTS TROPHY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1939, Page 18

EARL ROBERTS TROPHY

PRESENTED BY LORD GALWAY

CEREMONY AT SCOTS COLLEGE

The Earl Roberts Cadet Trophy for rifle shooting, which was won by Scots College last year in competition with secondary schools throughout the Empire, was presented to the winning team by the Governor-General, Loi'd Gal way, in the college grounds; yesterday afternoon, in the presence of the cadet company and a good number of parents arid friends. Accompanying his Excellency were Lieutenant S. Lombard-Hdbson, R.N. (aide-de-camp), and Colonel E. Puttick, officer commanding the Central District.The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), Colonel O. H. Mead, Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, and Major F. L, Hunt, area staff officer in' Wellington, were also present. An apology for absence was received; from the Chief of the General Staff, MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan. In welcoming his Excellency,. the principal of the college, Mr. K. W. R. Glasgow, said that it was a day of considerable importance in the history of the school. He hoped that it would not be the last occasion on which his Excellency was at Scots College before his term as Governor-General came to an end, He was sure that all present would be interested to know that \ of the five members of the team three had ioined up with. Territorial units, while the remaining two members could not do so. vas they lived in re- j mote districts. They were all proud j of a team that could sqore 294 out of a possible 320 under trying conditions. He wished particularly to congratulate Sergeant Aj M. Jolly, who had scored 77 out of 80. (Applause.) It was not possible to shoot under the conditions without being thoroughly fit, and he thought physical drill, which was given a prominent oart in the college activities, was justified. His Excellency, before presenting the trophy, said that he was; pleased to be present to congratulate the team on its splendid performance. It had been a strenuous contest, which had required physical fitness to the highest [pitch of perfection, and it was a great | credit to the team that it had won. It was important in these strenuous | times, he said, to keep one's eye fixed on the target, and concentrate on the important things of life. VALUE OF MILITARY TRAINING. "I hope this will not be my last visit to the college, as I have a great in* ! terest in. educational movements, aiSd in cadet corps training and efficiency," his Excellency went on. "I am certain that they accomplish something worth while, and help to develop the power to grasp a situation and the power to deal with it. Military training is not training for the sake of drill and of marching up and down. but to form and stabilise character. The importance of rine shooting is a great asset in the training of military formations at school." , When he was a boy leaving school. nu Excellency said,, Lord Roberts was the greatest schoolboy hero. After Lord Roberts returned from the South African War the thought uppermost in his mind was to rouse interest in Engl- dto the importance of training and. rifle shooting, and all those things con* nected with rifle shooting. The Rev. P. J. Wainwright congratulated the team on behalf of the Board of Governors, and said that It had not only put Scots College on the map. but had outlined it with bright colours. The team, which was coached by Captain T. G. Bedding, consisted Sergeant I, H. Mac Donald, team captain, Company Sergeant-Major J. G, Ross, Sergeant P- G. Brown, Sergeait A. M. Jolly, and Corporal I. M. Napier. In addition to receiving the trophy they were individually presented with medals. ~ ' After the presentation the cadet company, which was inspected by his Excellency on his arrival, marched past under the command of Captain V. F. O. Francis, his Excellency taking the salute. A display of physical drill was given at the conclusion of the parade.