A Hoary Captain

NZ Truth, Issue 1177, 21 June 1928, Page 6

A Hoary Captain

WHENEVER the boys of the Christchurch High School turn out m

uniform, even the most ardent anti-militarist m the Cathedral City is forced to admit they are a pretty fine lot. Clean-limbed, alert and keen, they are- typical young New -Zealanders.

And the . man responsible for their easy marching and braced shoulders is Captain William Hoar, one time of His Majesty's Imperial Forces and now. drill instructor at the "Boys' High." "Arms swing" and "on the hands down" hold no mysteries for Hoar. He can take an awkward: squad of twenty or thirty youngsters, and, m a week or two, impart to them the niost impressive chests and real he-man biceps. .

Captain Hoar does not work on the old "Tommy sergeant-major" methods. E.e believes m making friends with the men or boys he is drilling.As a result, he has them working with all -'the dash of a volunteer regiment of twenty or thirty years ago. If you would see what pupils of the Christchurch Boys' High School think of Hoar, just watch when- he is met by two or three "old boys." Meeting a wealthy relation isn't to be compared with it for enthusiasm.

P. J. Small