THAT CADET CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8122, 29 May 1906, Page 3

THAT CADET CAMP.

TO THE KMTOB. Sib.—As the father of two children attending the Central School, I desire to express my indignation at the unjust and tm-Britisli treatment meted out to Mr Dempsey and his subordinates in the matter of the toasting at the cadet camp. The blackest criminal hns 111 i right to defend himself, yet a capable, zealous, and popular tea -her has been falsely accused, and held up to public reprobation as a possible contaminator of youth, without (if I am rightly informed) being allowed to produce evidence in reputation. There are various opinions on the liquor question, but only one on the eternal prying" tactics pursued by certain members of this community. Unless it is contended that every teacher must be an abstainer, there is not an iota of blame attachable to Mr Dcmpaey or his officers. For the meeting in that tout was essentially a I private one (after duty was oyer) and « katever was done by its occupants in their private capacity was no business of Mr Maunder or anyono else so long as ordinary decency and proprietry were observed. If Mr Maunder and his coadjutors wish, to ruin the Cadet Corps, they may ilatter themselves they have done so. I for one regret it. It is a form of athletics that boys take an intorest in and t!ie quantity of mishappen youths in our mdst proves the necessity of some k::il of drill. Further, the only means of obtaining an armed nation capable of defending itself in time of need, for what is learnt in boyhood is retained in mature age, Even a Maori Haka —Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Ora, Ka Ora, Ka Ora.—l am, etc., J. J. Habkeb,