Ex-All Black named in abuse case

By NICOLA BOYES


A former All Black has been singled out for the way he ran the barracks at the Army's Waiouru cadet school during the years alleged abuses took place.

Stan "Tiny" Hill, an All Black between 1955 and 1958, was regimental sergeant major in charge of drills and barracks life at the school from 1963 to 1966.

Now aged 77, Mr Hill told the Herald yesterday that cadets were treated honestly in the proper military way.

Another authority figure at the school during the 1980s compared the allegations of abuse to what happened in boarding schools.

Since claims of physical and sexual abuse at the school between the 1960s and 1980s started emerging three days ago, many former cadets have told their stories.

Defence Minister Mark Burton has ordered an urgent inquiry.

A cadet who was at the school during Mr Hill's time described the former Army, Canterbury and New Zealand rugby selector as a harsh disciplinarian.

Eric West says he was hospitalised for a week with a displaced tailbone after a beating at the school during Mr Hill's time.

"One has to say that Stan Hill, there was little warmth in the man.

"He was totally unsuitable for the job."

Speaking from his Christchurch home, Mr Hill said cadets were treated according to military standards.

"I know people say that I was a sadist. I was called a bastard many times, but never mind.

"Those chaps that I've spoken to since are good citizens and have fitted in well.

"We dealt with the things the way we saw it at the time and there was no grizzling and the job went on."

He said he never assaulted a cadet, though he believes some non-commissioned officers may have overstepped the mark.

"It was tough but they [cadets] got through it and most of them are in great jobs," Mr Hill said.

A rugged forward, Mr Hill played 11 tests for the All Blacks, including three against the Springboks in the famous 1956 series in New Zealand.

He was involved with rugby in the Army, was an All Black selector from 1981 to 1986 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to rugby.

Another former officer at the school, Wayne Anker, oversaw an investigation into abuse at the school after 17-year-old cadet Grant Bain was shot in the barracks in 1981.

A second-year cadet, Corporal Andrew William Read, 17, threatened Grant Bain with a rifle and shot him as Grant tried to push the weapon away.

Mr Anker, a former major, was commanding officer of the school from 1981 to 1982.

He said he was surprised that Defence Minister Mark Burton had ordered another investigation into the school.

"There certainly was an investigation at the time I was there."

Mr Anker says the court of inquiry held after Grant Bain's death was broad because of suggestions of "bastardisation" at the school.

"I suppose you'd call it bullying."

He said some cadets were sent to the military's corrective facility as a result of the investigation.

Ex-cadets who spoke out yesterday included one who said he was held down by four others and had his scrotum scuffed with a shoe polish brush.

Said Mr Anker: "That sort of thing probably did go on, but I dare say that time perhaps embellishes the actual deed."

He said what went on at the school was no different to what went on in many boarding schools.

A spokeswoman for Mr Burton said the minister was given a briefing into the allegations yesterday.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said she was extremely concerned about the allegations.

"I think we are at the preliminary stage of trying to gauge what the dimensions of this are, but the kinds of allegations we have heard are quite shocking."