CADET CAMP COMPLAINTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 340, 16 March 1910, Page 8

CADET CAMP COMPLAINTS.

A RESURRECTION. major Mcdonald shifts the BLAME.

It had been fervently hoped that the cadet camp business had been dropped, •but unfortunately, as Mr. Cork ill put it Ao the Central School Committee last night, it came to the ears of the authorities that he was in. Wellington last week, and Major McDonald hunted him up, explaining that lie and his officers felt very 'keenly the resolution that had gone down to headquarters from this committee, and were anxious to put their side of the case. As a believer in fair play Mr. Corkill felt he could not refuse, and he spent a couple Oif hours one afternoon with Major McDonald. At the conclusion of Mr. Oorkill's communication, several members thought it unfair that the reporters should be asked to publish this statement, which reflected on Major Sandford and Quarter-master-Captain Bary, without they were first given an opportunity of answering it. The Rev. F. G. Evans said it would place the committee in a most invidious position if the report 1 was published 'without first giving these olficers such opportunity, and it would be a most improper proceeding. Taking a cup from this, our reporter decided to condense this verbal, semi-official report into distinct 'heads, and to ask Major Sandford to reply just as briefly to the charges made. Major McDonald's replies to criticisms were:

(1) That nothing would have been heard about the camping-ground being unsuitable but for the fact that it rained. (2) That baggage-waggons to carry the paraphernalia of 700 cadets had been ordered to meet the train at 10 p.m., and there was no need for any boy to carry his "swag" to camp. Only 605 boys arrived by the train. (3) That the quartermaster's orders for Wednesday evening were for the caterer to provide tea for 1140 cadets at 5.30; tea for 520 cadets jit 7 p.m.; and supper for 500 at 10.30. These_ orders were cancelled, and others substituted to provide tea for 946 at 5 p.m.; for 766 at 6 p.m.; supper for 289 at 9.30 p.m.; and for 605 at 10.30.

(4) Major Sandford wrote on February 10th to headquarters, "I expect to bring 150 cadets," and he took 213, without sending advice of any increase in the strength. ■ The authorities', however, /ascertained by telegraphing to different points along the line that more were coming. (5) The Department paid for cups of 1 tea for 384 boys (including some Taranaki boys) at P&lmerston North on the down trip. (6) Inclusive of and 2301b of suet, the meat supply totalled 12,5901b, which worked out at more than men's rations. (7) When the No, 1 Taranaki battalion got into camp their supper was actually ready and awaiting distribution to 605 boys. But the officers commanding the battalions said the boys had had enough to eat, and wanted to get to sleep. In consequence of that, the boys were sent to bed supperless. Next day three cartloads of unconsumed "tucker" went into the rubbish tip. (This was endorsed by Quartermaster-Captain Henderson, who was in charge of the feeding of the camp.) Mr. Corkill also stated that some Central School boys had complained to him that the quartermaster of the Taranaki battalion had ordered them to clean up a lot, of scraps and wasted rooil from outside the tents of another company of the battalion. This showed that one company had got plenty of food whilst others had to go ,sihori. The Rev. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Harvey deprecated raking up this matter I the former remarking that there had been a lot of bungling that might have been expected. Mr. Grant remarked that evidently the committee had been wrong in blaming headquarters for the muddle, when really our own officers were to blame for the boys going supperless that night. The Rev. Mr. Osborne said that no fault could be found with Captains Mcllroy and Boeock or Lieutenant Day. Was it wise to go any further? He was satisfied where the blame rested. Mr. Corkill: I think I know where the weak spot is. The question for the committee to decide was whether tlje committee ought to go further and qualify its resolution that had been sent to the Department. Mr. Rwlrt thought it better not to. for the enquiry was not complete until thev had had the evidence of Major Ranlford and Quartermaster-Captain Bary.

Mr. Corkill said that, the committee had no control over either Major Sandford or Captain Bary. If t'hose officers wished to communicate with the committee he would be very pleased to receive correspondence from them. But next time anything of the kind was mooted the committee's authority as parent's would come in, and "we will ■want to know,- you know." Mr. Grant said there wa* no complaint except from the Central School. The Rev. Mr. Evans said that the captains of the companies were to blame if any boys, were insufficiently fed, for each captain had a right to see his men properly provided for. The chairman said that there were twenty-one persons engaged at the camp in working and cutting up food, or one for about every two hundred cadets. A motion drafted by the chairman, and moved by Mr. Rudd, to the effect that, owing to the information received from Major McDonald in Wellington, the Minister be asked to hold over the committee's previous resolution until after further investigation by the committee, was defeated by an amendment, moved by the Revs. Osborne ami Evans, that nothing be done until after the receipt of the official reply from Wellington. The mover said he knew the public was sick of the business. Mr. Harvey voted with reluctance, believing .the matter should never have been brought up again, and siding with the amendment in order to "kill the thing."

MAJOR SANDFORD REPLIES. Major Sandford, commanding the No. 1 battalion, of which the Central School companies form a part, was reluctant to be drawn into a controversy at all with a committee with which lie had nothing to do officially, but, being pressed, gave replies as follows: (2) We didn't carry anything, and we've never said 1 that we did. (3) No knowledge of these orders. (4) I received orders, subsequent to my letter, , showing the number that would entrain at each station, and this number was exceeded by only about a dozen. (5) Our boys paid for their own tea. They had sixpence each, and got two cups of tea going down and two coming back, as well as bread and cheese. The Department didn't pay a penny of it for No, 1 Battalion. (f>) No knowledge. (7) All I have to say about that is that my officers and I met, discussed the question, and decided that, from information supplied by company officers, the boy did not require food, but required a drink or tea, for which we made application. It was not procurable for an hour. This food (Irish stqw) was supplied the battalions arriving later, and we i.id to clean up a lot of it from around our tents in the morning. Major Sf.ndford added, in reference to Mr. Corkil'/s offer to receive correspondence fi'om him, that lie would be pleased to communicate with the committee on the. subject when, and only when, the committee had sufficient courtesy to communicate wit'n him direct.