such times as may be deemed
advisable, provided such training is not made irksome to the lads
themselves or detrimental to their employers' interests or their own.

III

SCHEME PROPOSED

The scheme proposed therefore comprises:

1st. A general uniform system of mental and physical culture in all
schools up to the time when the boy leaves school.

2ndly. The scientific training necessary to develop a disciplined
mind in all schools.

The above to be under the direct supervision of the Education
Departments.

3rdly. The teaching of schoolboys to shoot straight under expert
supervision.

4thly. The establishment of public gymnasia for the training in
physical culture and rifle shooting up to 18 years for lads who
have left school.

5thly. Universal annual partial training in drill, also the special
encouragement of all manly sports without interference with their
civil occupations.

And finally, the formation of rifle clubs for all citizens between
25 and 60 years of age throughout the Commonwealth, with the
fullest facilities for the encouragement of rifle shooting.

This my scheme was adopted in its entirety. A study of the Act of
Parliament instituting it will show that the whole of the provisions
suggested above were fully met.

But to return to the consequences of the Press reports. I had called upon
the editors to contradict the statements attributed to me as regarded the
loafing on the cricket ground, but pointed out at the same time that I
had fully meant what I had said with reference to the great waste of time
and the failure on the part of thousands of young men to fit themselves
for the defence of their country, owing to the absence of some form of
legislation which would make it necessary for them to devote some of
their time to the development of their physical and moral welfare. The
Press, as a whole, fully acquitted me of any intentional desire to call
those who had attended the Test Match loafers. They also assured me that
they were in full agreement with my remarks otherwise, and with the end
such remarks had in view, that they fully intended to start a campaign
with a view of bringing about the necessary legislation for universal
service on the lines suggested by me, and would not rest until that
object was achieved. This they accomplished.

As is now well known, by an Act of Parliament in 1909