The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1901. MILITARY TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1901. MILITARY TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

In connection with the movement that is taking place in this colony to establish a system of military traiaing in the State school, it is interesting to notiea that $t Home educational experts are moving in tfye sitna direction. There it is also pleasing to notice people in every walk in life are taking the matter up as a necessity of nation.*] defence. No doubt the young colonial, from his free mode of life, is mors easily aud more rapidly turned iijto a soldier, still the value of e:»rly • raining is recognised by everyone whs j>ivt*s the subjoin thoughtful consideration. In an English newspapsr to, hand by the last mail appears a piper road by the Be v. 0. G. Gull, M.a., Captain Commandant of the 4th Lsm-j don Voluntear Corps, before the | (Tnjtnd S-»rvicß Institution upon " Military graining in Secondary Sthools" Speaking with the authority of one having bad 24 years experience of working cadei corps and at present commanding a corps composed almost entirely of old fiofiep} boys of the Grocers' Com pany spools, be s:iid, "It had " olw&yi stewed to him remarkabl* that tha Army was the only deptrkm»nt of athletics in which early training was neglectad. It was linn cwssary p'iihapsto la boar the paint that military diill and tha of aims could b#, and ought to be, taught to boys. Tie number of «ad«t corps appr#v&d by tbe pffico hnd increased by 04 per cent, in the pjrte.ast year, and there w>i'<s now 79 suoh'cOrp*, ottyittißg oadet b-*Hali»n», But the average number enrolled did ni>t exceed 100 per corps, so that the whole number under training ftigiojinted roughly to 8,000 boys. The Inoopporated 4.«Bop}ation of Head, masters, which embraced 450 public secondary schools, at a general meeting hrld in Jur.e this year, at S«. Jehn's O'.'Hege, Cambridge, instructed a commit es to ccmuiunica'e with tha War with a view to encourage schools f o take fyfO>y -jart in a system of national defence, I'be .Office had consented to receive a. deputation on the subject, and a memorandum had been drawn up for presentation by the deputation. The committee made the following suggestions(l) That the War Office should issue regulations for a course o £ physical drill in schools, {2) That all schools which adopt the War Offica regulations should be inspected annually. (3) That efficient instructprp should be provided by the War Office at reasonable charges. (4) That the War Office should offer to masters in sscondnry schools the same facilities in schools of instruction as are givon bo officers of Rifle Volunteers. (5) That the Government shoiild furnish auitaWc arms for all boys ov-'i 1 15 yell's Cf &ge, both for dii'l for instruction in riftti (jhootipg in Morris tube ranges. Whpre practicable, facilities should he granted for the ush f service rang. s (6) That the GoVArnmef.t should provide ammunition for such on the same terms as ti ! volunteer rilie corps. (8) That thfofiicers ccKimanding military district" should ba responsible for the military ' *raii>iog and inspt ction cf all schools in heir districts which ad* pt the W«i Office regulations. (8) Than an in-■<po[:tcjr-gen<:ral of militmy training io •chtiols should be The oommittee believe tint uocer such a system, in times o? national crisis, the heme aimy of defence could ba rapid

and elective,ly increased. It would f bo obsm>.tl th'\t no mention was ni:id« { m tho ooiamitto-.'s suggestions til,outi uniforms. It if absolutely ueews try I that tho provision 0? uniforms sbcu'd j bo loft optional. Tho obj'ct in view >'« j net to m:\kfl PoUliors, hut to pm to all boys a military training of snob a | c l :acactw as to enable them to tnk« | ; thair place in the ranks in nfier yeaisi with bus short preparation. There wars not a few reformers at the present time who rogarded rilio shooting as the sole training required for an army of defence; it should at. le*at form au important part ©f that ti-nirj-ing, and should be included iu the Bchool coin so \iy the aid of Morris tube ranges. Personally ha would l.ke to see miniature ranges used also for collective practice, iu order that fire discipline might be early acquired, at least by sacSiotis; but this would involve ijxtra expense in tho provision of rifles fitted with Morris tubes. The Government m'ght be expected *o provide both weapons and ammunition on a scale sufficient to ensure real proficiency in all buys of 15 yours of age. In this way ride shooting would iu a few yeuV become a national sport. Certainly the ease and steadiness with which trained boys to)k their places in the ranks in after yoars would surprise those who hfld nob witnessed it. The recruit stage did not exist for such men, If such training became general, the nation would receivo a great accession of strength. The present was a splendid opportunity; the schools were, he believed, ready to fall into line, a little hearty encouragement and organisation on tho part of the War Office wera all that was needed."