E.—ld.

to be worn with the point up on the left wrist, and to receive a further badge for any subsequent years he may serve on the same condition. These badges to be removed at any time for any breach of discipline in connection with the corps or school by the headmaster, for a definite period or altogether, according to the offence committed. In the former case it would depend entirely on the conduct of the cadet whether he should be entitled to wear the badge at the expiration of the term for which it was removed. The proposed institution of this badge met with the entire approval of all the headmasters. Recognition of Officers.— Though the General Officer Commanding has signified his intention to allow Volunteer officers to be identified with the public-school cadet corps, there should also be some recognition of the officers of Education cadets as there is of those of the Defence cadets, who are in most cases teachers also. The reason given is that the former cadets are not under the Defence Department, and consequently they cannot be recognised. This difference should not exist, seeing that both classes of officers have only the one object in view in relation to their respective institutions. By the New South Wales " Cadet Begulations " it would appear that commissions are granted to teachers in that colony, and provision is made for their selection, competency, resignations, duties, promotion, and precedence. In the latter ease, Begulation 34 says : " The relative precedence of officers of the different corps will be according to rank and the dates of their commissions." This shows conclusively that commissions are granted. A like provision should also exist in this colony, and teachers passing a qualifying examination through the School of Instruction, as is done in the case of officers of the Volunteer Force, should receive recognition. All the teachers who are officers have expressed their wish to go up for examination. If a substantive rank is not granted, then an "acting " one should be given, so that the status of the officer may be recognised. Advantages to be gained. —The advantages which will be gained by the adoption of the present system would be the training of a lad to take his place in the adult Volunteer corps as a " trained " man, in every respect calculated to make a good soldier ; or, in cases of emergency arising, he would be found ready to take his place in the ranks. A complete system of discipline would have been inculcated in him, as also a system of order and cleanliness, which, before he left school, would become a second nature to him ; and last, but not least, the cost of raising and training such a force would be a mere bagatelle compared to what the colony would gain thereby. L. W. Loveday, Major, The Bight Hon. the Minister of Education. Commanding Public-school Cadets.

Statement showing the Number of Recognised Public-school Cadet Corps in the several Education Districts of the Colony on the 30th June, 1903, and their respective Strengths.

Approximate Gout of Paper.—Preparation, nil; printing (1,775 copies). £1 Is. ed.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o3.

Price 3d.]

3

Education Districts. CO O O o © ft d 0 -4-2 w M ca P3 c3 a (D -u CD a o o CD CQ CQ 4-J fl CC CD bO C CD B o Q O a C3 CD tx CD CQ o o O a c3 « o "3 o cc ■d o a C3 o CQ a "3 O CO ;-i (D "bo PQ <d > 'u Auckland lawke's Bay ]aranaki Vellington ... Vanganui ... 37 25 6 29 13 33 17 5 18 13 3 2 3. 2 97 63 15 65 29 57 58 15 46 33 31 22 5 19 14 1,455 947 214 1,081 572 1,768 1,162 268 1,269 687 19 12 15 9 110 86 103 44 83 269 209 91 4,269 5,154 5,154 'anterbury North Janterbury South 13 6 3 7 30 6 3 4 12 5 2 6 24 5 3 2 15 8 3 7 26 6 3 4 5 1 2 5 9 1 2 2 9 5 2 5 14 3 2 3 32 19 7 18 74 10 5 9 27 21 6 16 61 10 1 12 7 6 1 5 20 5 0 4 609 287 130 330 1,492 268 117 128 716 352 153 392 1,720 308 133 164 key kelson )tago iouthland Vestland darlborough 72 59 72 27 43 174 154 48 3,361 3,938 3,93; kand total of all ranks 145 175 71 126 443 363 139 7,630 9,092 ?otal number of corps companies recognised awaiting to be gazetted Total 182 4 278 278 186 9,370