E.—ll

2

Brigade Parades. ,~ Brigade parades took place on Coronation Day and Dominion Day at the four largest centres, and in all cases were very well attended, the average attendance being about 1,500 Junior Cadets. Obituary. I regret to have to report the death of Mr. Richard Mears, late Storeman and Armourer, on the 27th August, 1911. Mr. Mears was for many years a faithful servant of the Department, and bore a fine British army record, having been with Lord Roberts on his famous march from Kabul to Khandahar, for which he received the Roberts Star. He also wore the Zululand and Egyptian Campaign medals. New Appointment. Mr. E. R. C. Brooke was appointed Storeman and Armourer on the sth September, 1911, in place of Mr. R. Mears, deceased. Transfer. Sergeant-major Instructor S. Moore, of the New Zealand Junior Cadet Staff, was appointed Area Sergeant-major to the New Zealand Defence Force Instructional Staff on the 13th February, 1912. Inspections. Owing to the fact that no provision is made on the estimates for an Assistant Staff Officer, and as there is such a big volume of official correspondence to be dealt with at Headquarters, affecting 573 schools and approximately 30,000 Junior Cadets, 1 was not able to get away on inspection duty as much as I wished. lam glad, however, to report that I was able to visit Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay centres, also schools in and near Nelson, Blenheim, and further south between Timaru and Dunedin, including Christchurch. Major McDonald visited Auckland, Taranaki, and Wanganui districts earlier in the year, so that between us we practically covered all the education districts. The West Coast and Invercargill districts still remain untouched, though I have arranged for periodical visits by Staff Instructors to both these localities. I am glad to report that everywhere 1 went I found conscientious and intelligent efforts being made to cope with the training of Junior Cadets both in elementary military drill, free gymnastics, and deep breathing, and, generally speaking, enthusiasm prevails throughout the Dominion amongst teachers for the Junior Cadet movement. Physical Instruction. I regard the physical instruction of the young attending primary schools in New Zealand as being of the utmost importance. From what I have been able to gather from personal observation, I consider the present system is altogether too haphazard. What is required is uniformity throughout schools. This could only be attained by instituting under a Central Department, such as the Junior Cadet Department, a series of teachers' classes for male and female teachers in all parts of the Dominion, and placing these classes in the hands of the best available professional experts —experts who can not only demonstrate exercises, but explain the use and object of each on anatomical and physiological lines to teachers, who will in turn be able to pass the knowledge so gained to their pupils. A suitable handbook of exercises—such, for instance, as that used by the London Education Board and by primary schools in Australia—might be adopted as the standard handbook, thus ensuring greater uniformity still; and, in order that results might be noted, a system of recording on cards the improvement or reverse physically of every individual child attending school might be instituted. This has been done experimentally at some schools, but there is no reason why the system should not be made universal. I may say that, with regard to the above suggestions, such small beginnings have been made by this Department as our means allow, viz. : — (1.) The nine Instructors belonging to the Department were assembled for a " refresher course " in November last, and put under an expert for tuition in physical exercises and deep breathing. (2.) I have personally, when inspecting schools, called out every boy and girl attending a primary school, and inspected them at free gymnastics and deep breathing, and, if necessary, addressed the teachers on the subject as well. (3.) Weekly physical-culture classes for teachers have been conducted by the Department's Instructors at Blenheim, Masterton, Hastings, and Wanganui, which were largely attended, and especially by female teachers. (4.) Teachers' training corps have been formed at the normal colleges in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Here the prospective Junior Cadet officer receives instruction in free gymnastics and deep breathing, as well as military drill. I consider that in future more attention ought to be paid to the physical instruction of the Junior Cadets (twelve to fourteen years of age), and not only them, but that of every boy and girl attending primary schools irrespective of age. In my opinion, the boy, youth, or growing man of New Zealand will get enough of military drill proper between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five in the Senior Cadets and Territorials. What is now wanted in primary schools in New Zealand is a system which would combine " character-formation " —such as General Baden-Powell's Boy Scout training embodies —and physical development, and perhaps a little simple military drill and miniature-range shooting. In Sweden and Switzerland such subjects are nationalized and are made compulsory, and there is no reason why something of the kind might not be done in New Zealand.