CADET CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8125, 2 June 1906, Page 2

CADET CAMP.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —As an ex-member of the Taranaki Education Board, 1, and I am sure the majority of peoplo, thank you for tlie manner in which you havo written ro the action of the Board in passing such a resolution, which has had tbo effect of Major Dempsey resigning the command of the Taranaki Battalion of Cadets, no other course being open to him. I was surprised that the matter was debated at all, and started by a member who spoke from newspaper reports Surely, sir, any official, whether a teacher or otherwise, should have the opportunity of giving evidence without being condemned unheard. The right course to have 1 adopted was a committee to make full inquiries and then report to the Board. ' When I was a member of the Board I 1 often, with tlie late Mr Bauchopo, 1 travelled to country schools where complaints were lodged, against I teachers, and we went into the : whole matter examining teachers, 1 parents and children, niu. then gave • our report to the Board, which sat in ; Committee to debate our report, and afterwards gave their decision, fie- , garding this Sunday camp, I was pre- . sent, and there saw the chairman, and t inspector, and secretary of the Board, j and no doubt fchey knew this liaka was l to take place, and if they considered it ; wrong, they might havo given a hint to i the commanding officer, and no doubt it would not have happened. However, in the haka, 1 myself did not see 1 anything amiss in it, more than the ' drilling and marching past which took J place before a Minister of the Crown. One was showing the Minister what j was wanted for military requirements, and the other what our old Maoris 1 adoptod prior to going into fighting. I may siy, from my experience of Major Dempsey, ever since he i came to Taranaki, his heart r is in the children's welfare, and having ; had three sons trained under him, both . at school and in the cadets, it gives one 1 pleasure in testifying to his love of > children, not only when under him, r but after they have left to battle for t themselves by giving them advice, j When Major Dempsey took the cadets i to Christehurch at the time of the Duko's visit, not a word but praise was j lavished on him for his fatherly care in [ looking after them. I trust, therefore, l the Board will see their way to rescind s the scathing resolution they have | passed, which, if done, Major Dempsey t may be approached to withdraw his I resignation. Re control when at I camp, they are under military rules, not Boards, and as the State provides the monies for Boards to disburse as well as for cadet encampments, I trust if the Board do not draw back, } that the Minister of Defonce will have a full enquiry made into the matterj " as it would be a groat pity that our 5 cadet movomont should be in peril, 1 which looks like it at presont.—l am, • etc,, • Sam HIU.