§ Mr. HUDSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the practice existing in secondary schools of permitting cadet corps drill to take place at an hour which necessitates the curtailment of the periods for ordinary school instruction; whether he is aware that in some cases pressure upon boys to join these corps is so complete that only medical evidence or the statement of conscientious objection by the parents is admitted as valid ground for exemption; and whether he will take steps to secure that cadet corps form no part of the organisation of public secondary schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have no reason to suppose that it is the practice to hold cadet corps drills at times which involve any material interference with the ordinary school instruction, or to put pressure on pupils to join cadet corps of the degree suggested in the question. I am certainly of opinion that no pressure should be exercised, but I am not prepared to embark on a policy of suppression or prohibition of cadet corps.