THE SCHOOL CADETS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8094, 26 April 1906, Page 2

THE SCHOOL CADETS.

At Wednesday's Education Board meeting, there was considered a goodly amount of correspondence on tho subject of the cadet movement. Mr H. Dempsey, headmaster at the Central School, and Major commanding the Taranaki Battalion, wrote that ho would give the matter of uniforms his attention, in terms of Colonel loveday's report. The Central School Committee forwarded a copy of its' resolution suggesting that cadet camps, if held should take place early in the holiday season, so that school work would not be interfered with; also protesting against the reported camp proceedings on the Sunday. Mr G, H. Maunder, a member of tho Board who was unable to be present, wrote on the same subject, concluding: "According to the reports in the.press, and also from others who were present, the day was taken up with cleaning up the camp, general work, church parade, and then a haka (whatever that was), the whole concluding with toast-drink-ing in the evening. I feel sure that I voice the views of the great majority of the public, to whom Sunday is a day of religious observance and home enjoymeut, in saying that the way the Sunday was spent was not conducive to the best interests of the boys nor to reflect credit on the community," Mr Maunder also complained that the management and control of the cadets seemed to have been assumed by the Education Department, without reference to the Board.

! Tlie chairman of the Board stated that lie, with the Chief Inspector and the secretary, visited the Sentry Hill camp on Sunday afternoon, having been invited to do so by Colonel Loveday. He had attended the church parade, and afterwards accepted the hospitality of the officers. A few of the cadets mustered and danced what he thought was an imitation of a Maori h ika, which, in his opinion, should not have been allowed. He knew of no other misconduct.

Mr Wade further remarked that he considered the Board should have been approacncd wheu the dates ot the camp were fixed. He know the Board had decided iu favour of cadet camps being held in December, or in the midsummer holidays. The matter will como up for discussion at next meeting of the Board,