THE CADET ENCAMPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8126, 5 June 1906, Page 2

THE CADET ENCAMPMENT.

COMMANDING OFFICERS' BEPORTS. Officers commanding the cadet companies which took part in the recent encampment have reported Jo headquarters their views on this phase of the oadet movement, Iheir opinions being based on the cxper.enco gained on that occasion.

"Do you think the training necessary and beneficial P" To this question (he officer commanding the Central (New Plymouth) sohool company, replies: " loonsider it most boneticial and very necessary as an aid to full military training." Stratford and Inailewood reply briefly " Yes, certainly," and " I do." West End considers" Attendance at camp is a neoessary part of the training of a oadet. The West End cadets certainly benefited by the instruction gained at Sentry Hill." The Ngaire report says, " I went to the camp in a doubting mood, but came away quite confirmed as to its valuo."

All the reports oonour in asserting that there was no great responsibility incurred through sicktess, nor was there likely to bo. Great interest attaches to the answers seat to the quostion: " Was your school disorganised through the oamp being held in school hours to any serious extent P" From the Central, the reply is: " Not in the least, the remaining members of the staff carrying on the Bchool in the usual way." West End: "No. For while the boys were doing extra drill, the girls did extra needlework, physiology, etc." The Stratford " school |was somewhat

disorganised, but the good done to the boys by the camp amply repaid" the teacher. Inglewood's disorganisation was "nothing to speak; of," and at Ngaire there was none. There is a consensus of opinion that the camps should be held in school hours, Stratford alone recommending that the encampment should take place during the holidays. Unanimity prevails in the assertion that the cadets were well pleased with the food supplied, and the allowance of seven shillings per cadet was ample for the week's training. " Did you find parents who objected on moral grounds P" The replies are : Central: "No objections have been received from the .parents of any cadet attending the camp—all are pleased." West End: "None. Many have spoken highly of the training at and discipline of the camp." Stratford: "No such objection was .made to me, and I havo heard of none." Inglewood : " Heard no objections on those ' grounds" Ngaire : " After the re--1 ports of the boys attending the camp had been circulated, some parents wished they had taken advantage of . the chance, etc."

"Do you think that all ranks profited by the training P" Central answers :"1 am certain o£ it. The weok was most profitably employed." West End: " Yes. All the officers own

they have, and it follows that the company as a whole must have done so " Stratford : "At Sentry Hill, yes, I think that parents and teachers may allow their boys to go into any camp controlled by Colonel Loveday without fear of any evil consequence." Ngaire: "To a very great extent. Other teachers expressed surprise at the manner in which the boys conducted themselves." Inglewood answers briefly: " I do."

It should be stated in connection with the cost of tho camp, that parents and sympathisers sent large quantities of fruit and vegetables for tho boys. The reports of officers in other parts of the colony arc on similar lines, except that some think the whole expense should be borno by the Department; and that camps should be held once in every two years, in the last week of the school year. Tho Ashburton report considers the training unnecessary, complains of unseasonable weather, and states the school was seriously disorganised.