THE CADET CAMP STRICTURES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8164, 25 July 1906, Page 2

THE CADET CAMP STRICTURES

PROBABLE CLIMB-DOWN OF OFFICERS.

The long-drawn out cadet difficulty

was again mentioned by the Chairman of the Education Board on Tuesday night, and tin following letter was read from M.ijor Deinpsoy, officer-command-ing "At a meeting of Cadet oIU-ers, held on Saturday last, a resolution refusing to withdraw their resignations was unanimously adopted Since then, however, I understand that some of those present have undergone a change of front, which wiil compel the others to reconsider their position. Under tlie circumstances I am not justified in sending forward tlio above resolution, as evidently it does not now represent the feelings of all the officers. I shall, however, liave the matter definitely settled 011 Saturday next, when I hope a unanimous and satisfactory arrangement will bo aimed at. With regard to my own resignation, that still holds good, and is not affected by anything the other officers may do." Tlio Chairman said tlio Board should stand to the position taken up. The Cadet officers evidently wanted "to make the Board oat humble pie." The Board had passed resolutions that were both raild and conciliatory, hoping the affair would pass off without trouble. He thought the Board should accept Major Dompscy's resignation, to show tlio other Cadet officers that the Board would do the same with any others that might come in. He would never favour rescinding the Board's resolutions. He remarked that the Cadet officers were overlooking the interest of the Cadets, and were looking to their own nitcrcsts only. Mr Maunder moved, and Mr Trimblo seconded, "That Major Dempsey'e resignation of the 25th May be endorsed by the Board and forwarded to the Minister, and that consideration of the resignations of the other Cadet officers be held over ponding the receipt of the result of tho meeting to be iie'd on Saturday next and reforred to in Major Dempnoy's letter of the 24th mat." M!r Monkhouso movod an amendment, seconded by Mrs Dougherty, to delete all the words from " That" to "M: lister." The mover saw many alvautages in deiling with all the resignations at one and the same time.

„ Mr Maunder pointed out that Major Dempsey's resignation was final and definite, and must be accepted now. T.iere seemed i 0 be an idea that the I.j..rd would yield to the cadet officers, but he n eant to show that was a false ipression, Major Dempsey should have owned up that he had made a mis iuein his reading of the regulation but insjead of that ho comes in and, in his pettish way, resigns.. For his (Mr Maunuer s) part he was always P .o admit a fault if he were p o\ 3d w. mg.

Mr Trii-ible seconded the amendment, remarking tha; Mr Dempsey evidently intended to resign in any case.

Mr Monkhouse said he was as unwilling as any other member to recede from the position taken up by the Board. It was a moderate and sympathetic attitude. He thought that, as a matter of etiquette, the other officers would refuse to withdraw their resignations if the Board accepted Major Dempsey's now. Mr Morton expressed the wish that all resignations would be withdrawn, but the acceptance of Major Dempsey's would affect the other officers.

Mr Maunder said the amendment, if I carried, would be taken as a sign of weakness. "Etiquette aud honor among soldiers is a tiling foreign to mo," he remarket 1 , " I know it exists among carpenters." He thought that tho acceptance of the Major's resignation would free the other officers, and allow t'icm to act on their own account.

The amendment was carried, Messrs Maunder, Trimble, aud Wade opposing