THE CADET MOVEMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43069, 16 March 1907, Page 4

THE CADET MOVEMENT.

r : Itis reassuring to find that the n«w lyfiniarf-er of Education is imbued with a keen desjire to enjcourage the train- : ing of cadets, which gratifying to . those who are endeavouring, to'/ inr ctreaee effioienay' of the system. At a function at Christchurch, after. tHe

presentation of the shields, the Minis-: V: ’ ter for .Education said" he .was. well : aware of the fact that the cadet move- : merit had taken very firm root i n New ’ 'Zealand. ; Its success , had been, noticed and cemented, on favorably .by - visi£/tors from all parts of the Empire. He had no doubt that its success—and £f- the continuance of its early success — would do a good deal to> cause its extension to other parts of the EmpireT He/ looked upon the cadet movement .as a most valuable portion of the £ defence of the colony. The early enthusiasm of hoys for drill, and. their imtiatkm in the practice of shooting, would be valued) in years to come, and any feasible, scheme that oouldi be adopted that would bring, practice in ... marksmanship more readily within the /each of cadets he would look upon rery favourably indeed. Of course, he H : knew there were a’ great many difficulties in carrying out shooting practice as things ware at present arranged, and as Minister,. for Education he could not, of course, suggest that they should abolish the teaching syllabus ' in order to fill up the day with shooting,/ cricket and football. He; thoughtthat, these would have to be found room for in addition to the . ordinary School work! However, if they could , get the boys to look upon shooting as being as! enjoyable and as beneficial as cricket and football, they, would have attained a great deal, and. hie thought there was a possibility of that result being attained. By meains of miniature rifles and l rifle ranges ' twirld get a love of shooting, because it only required in the Britisher t little experience in shooting to giet /c*nd of it. When once hoys got the taste for it that practice and experience were sure to bring, they would carry with therm through! their whole lives a desire for practice in marksmanship. He heartily appreciated the work! thalti h!ad been done by the . teachers as cadet officers throughout the colony. He ihiald) no hesitation in • saying that they were performing very valuable work in that connection in /the interests of the whole colony. The- not only deserved’ the appreciation 1 of the Minister, for Education, but they deserved the appreciation: of all well-wishers of thief colony. Prom the foregoing-remarks it will be recognised 1 that the Government are desirous of encouraging marksmanship, and iif a scheme can be devised which will enable cadets to become thiewroughlv profiedemit in rifle shooting, it will be a 1 factor in the future defence of New Zealand.