TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1900.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 20, 17 July 1900, Page 2

TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1900.

On July 3rd, in the House of Representatives, Major Steward made the following enquiry of the Minister for Defence : — "Whether it ia intended to accept the services of the Waimate District High School Cadet Corps." The ( reply of Mr iSeddon was to the effect that the matter was under consideration — that the formation of Biich a corps was well worthy of attention, but that it was an important point as to what body should take charge of the movement and defray its cost — the Education Depai'tment or the Defence Department. For himself, he inclined to the former.^ The history of this interrogation is that some considerable time ago, a year or raore, at a meeting : of the Board of Governors of the Waimat® High' School, the idea of organising a cadet corps in connection- with the school was thrown out. The suggestion having met with unanimous favour, the Board proceeded to estimate the probable cost of tLe project (uniforms, arms and ammunition, etc.) and resolved to contribute the sum of £30, on condition* that the School Committee would find the balance-r-something like half the whoie. After some considerable delay, it at length came to be understood that the Committee would cordially co-operate to the required extent. The Headmaster haying found that from the ranks of his pupils ,ho could bring forward a sufficient number of young lads as suitable candidates, the authorities were asked whether they would accept the services of the proponed corps, and on what conditions. From that period to this, covering an interval of several months, no satisfactory answer has been received. This, we are of opinion, is very much io be regretted. "The tide, taken at the flood, loads on to fortune." Now, in the peculiar circumstances of the British Empire, is a "flood time" in all matters of volunteering, the formation of cadet corps, the organisation and fostering of all movements bearing on the defence, in case of aggression on the Empire and its colonies. It was the anticipation of trouble with France, in 1859 and 1860, that gave rive to the great movement of volunteering in Great (Britain, Some two or three | hundred thousand well trained and disciplined men are no slight help to the internal defence of any country. It is true an earlier initiative of the volunteer scheme is claimed in another quarter. It was the opening of the Crimean War, in 1854. The descent of a Russian privateer on the Natal Coast -yas deemed probable, and,

according to Sir John Robinson, I the Royal Durban Bangers was I the first legally-constituted mounted volunteer force established in the Empire — at least, since the great war. British Africa is again in evidence, and who knows the exigeneiea the present troubles in China niay bring about ? Is it not a time to encourage the volunteer evolution, and, in conjunction with it, to favour, in connection with the large schools of the colony, the formation of snch cadet corps as the people of Waimate are prepared, to give effect to ? The older lads— drilled as pupils within their school life — will, in time, naturally pass into the ranks of the volunteers — such periodic accretions adding numbers, efficiency and enthusiasm to the whole force. To strengthen our position on this topic, we reprint an extract from an article by a Mr Grohinan — evidently well up in the subject — in a recent number of the Nineteenth Century: — ''The main things to strive for are the same that Henry VIII had made his aim well nigh four hundred years ago. Arms that will shoot straight, ammunition that will do its work efficiently, easily available bjitts for the citizens to practise at, enforced rifle practice at all shools for youths of 15 yoars and upwards, and for the poorer classes of the population free use of arms and ammunition under proper supervision." Aa a further testimony to the attention to thia question being now aroused in Home circles, we have Mr Birchenongh's interesting article in a recent number of an English magazine. In Macclesfield and suburbs are some 24 schools — 12 urban and 12 suburban — called together by a certain patriotic association, th© 24 headmasters of these schools met aad considered the qiU'Slion of military drill and discipline in their respective institutions. Yes ! A grand idea ! One hour a week, at least, within school hours, to b9 devoted to these exercises, all after the third Standard to take part. A member of the teaching staff, if possible, to superintend ; if not available, some outside, competent, instructor to be called in, adequate remuneration to be agreed upon, and once a fprtnight in country schools, once a month in town schools, additional inspection and examination on the part of some professional Drill Inspeotor of acknowledged standing. The organisation is now at work, and with promise of best results, both as to the physical bearing of the boys themselves and the interest of the volunteer movement in general. It is to bo hoped that the New Zealand Government will not dally too long over the matter, and that shortly the educational authorities in thiß neighbourhood will receive & satisfactory answer to their | generous offer.