THE LATE CADET CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8143, 28 June 1906, Page 2

THE LATE CADET CAMP.

THE EDUCATION BOARD'S " CENSURE." CONFIDENCE IN THE OFFICERS EXPRESSED.

Another stage in Ihe cadet camp embroglio was roaclied on Wednesday, when the Taranaki Education Board was interviewed by Lieut.-Colonel Loveday, Officer Commanding the School Cadet Forces of the colony. The Colonel, in regretting the position of affairs that had arisen, and the resignation of all the battalion officers, said it remained to be seen whether the battalion would go on as before, or whether they would get new officers—whence he did hot know. He was sorry the Board had seen fit to refer to the conditions obtaining at the camp. He had been present himself, and was o£ opinion that everything had been properly earriod out. Ho had yet to learn that it was an offence for officers to have a glass of whisky in their own quarters. " Had you been there, gentlemen, no doubt you would have enjoyed tho evening.' In this case, the officers' quarters were quite a hundred yards from the boys' tents, and the oamp was in darkness, There was no singing, no noise, and nothing was done contrary to military usage and etiquette.

The Chairman, interrupting the Colonel, said the Board had not toft xl to the toast-drinking, He would pinner that the discussion should follow only on the lines of the Board's minuted resolutions.

Colonel Loveday thanked the chairman for his assurance, and said that in such a case the newspaper reports of last meeting must be incorrect. Continuing, Colonel Loveday referred to the "haka" reported to have been danced at the camp. A Minister of the Crown had seen it, and enjoyed it, and the Board's chairman and inspector had witnessed it. There was no harm in it. Objection had boen taken at tho Board's table to the work of clearing up the camp on Sunday morning, He was rather surprised at this, in these days, when hygiene was suoh an important matter. The officers could not allow dirt and filth to accumulate. As a matter of fact, a prizo had been given for the cleanest tent. Some mention had been made of leap-frog being indulged in by the cadets Mr Wade: Not here. It was not mentioned here.

Colonel Loveday said he was gla'l to hear he had been mis-informed on this point. He hoped that the Board tvould, in its wisdom, pass some resolution to enable the cadet movement to go on as before, and that there should bo no resignations.

Mr Wade said ho was anxious to see the wholo matter smoothed over, but the Board must insist on having the control of its sohools, and on being consulted beforo schools wero disorganised for the formation of cadet camps. And if they found that some things had been dono which hurt the Christian sentiments of some parents, then they were in duty bound to ask the cadet officers to try and prevent a repetition. Mr Faull thought no notice should be taken of what was published in the newspapers,

A letter was read from Major Dcmpsey, stating that he had spoken to the chairman of tho Board and the chairman of the Central School Committee on the proposal to hold a camp, but had not understood it his duty to apply to the Board. Colonel Loveday said he had taken as a general consent the resolution of the Board in November, 1904, giving leave to hold a eamp.

Mr Maunder contended that -the Board had nothing to do with the acceptance of resignations, but this lay entirely with the Minister of Education.

Colonel Loveday •corrected this impression, and stated that he would not make any appointment or accept any resignation except on the Board's recommendation. The Board had the oowcr of veto.

Colonel Loveday said the word " decorum " contained iu the resolutions was " a bit hot." Ho had looked it up in the dictionary, and found it referred to decency, Surely there was an inference that there had been a lack of decency P Mr Trimble: That's not the true meaning of the word. Air Maunder: Hear, hear. Colonel Loveday: Mr Maunder thinks the dictionary is wrong. Shall I get you the book P Mr Monkhouse moved: " That the Board express their full confidence in Major Dempsey and the officers of the Cadet Battalion, and request them to withdraw their resignations, and that it be pointed out that the Board in no way reflected upon the character or honor of the officers in camp." Mr Monkhouse reviewed lho position. The public and the officers had never fully understood the position. They did not seem to know that the Board had taken action only when a complaint was made by a member of the Board, and on the receipt of a complaint from the Contral School Committee, which roprosented the parents of half tho cadets attending tho camp. It was hardly possible to over-estimate the importance of this fact. In marked contrast to any suggestion of censure, the Board, recognising and appreciating the value of the work done by the

calct officers, took a vqry fair and gc lcrous view of a slight and inadvertent error of judgment. Tho Board had of necessity to take notice of tho complaint! oE parents, else they " would Have been even more in the soup than n>w," Ho hopod tho officers would meet the Board and withdraw the resignations. Colonel Loveday had proved clearly that the Board had not gone outside its duty. Mr Mauuder said tho officers were a iper-sensitivc. They should have adopted the bold, straight, honorable, ind dignified action of admitting that inadvertently things had occurred which should not havo occurred, but instead, they had in their oxtremo sensitiveness resigned their commissions, and wanted to dictate to the Boird when they should hold tho camps, and take holidays when they liked. Ho was not going to cry " Peccavi," he was not prepared to admit tho Board hid been wren}, and the officers perfectly right. Therefore he couH not support the resolution as m ved.

Mr Monkhouse said that asking the withdrawal of the resignations was merely the ordinary course to adopt Mr Adlam agreed with Mr Monkhouse. He beiieved in teaching the boys to stand properly, m irch properly, and shoot properly.

The chairman thanked Mr Monkhouse for his kind and careful explanation. His motion, if carried, would smooth over the difiiculty, and no one would be more pleased than ho would if this were done. He emphasised tho point that the Board would not retire an inch from the position taken up at last meeting, and was sure the officers would take care to conduct future camps in a manner that would cause no offence.

Mr Morton favored amending the motion, to main* clear the Board's determination not to withdraw from the position it had taken up. Mr Trimble ogreed, and moved an amendment, seconded by Mr Morton, that such words bo inserted.

Carried, Mr McDonald dissenting. [ Mr Monkhouse, replying, empha sised his opinion that the position was due wholly to a serious misunderstanding. The sensitiveness of the officers pleased him, as an indication that they would be ready to stand up for tlicir rights and the country's rights, when required.

. The motion was carried in the following form: " Tho Board express their full confidence in Major Dempsey and the officers of the Cadet Battalion, and, believing that the officers have sent m their resignations through a misunderstanding of the position, ask the officers to withdraw their resignations; and that it be pointed out that the Board in no way reflected n|fim the dimeter or honor of ftp plows is pamp."