5

E.—ld

" Ah, but this proposed remedy is wholly disproportionate," replied Sir John. "If carried out at all it would tiave to go upon a definite basis of universal liability to military service. But that would give us an army immeasurably beyond our real needs, and in doing so would dislocate trade and hamper every industry in the country. There exists no such necessity with us as with Continental countries to have the whole nation armed and liable to military service. We must be very hard pressed indeed and completely worsted at sea for a large standing army to be requisite in this country itself." " What is your view then as to the principle upon which this country ought to act ? " " The principle of the ' armed nation 'is no doubt the sound one if properly applied," answered SirjJohn. " Only it need not be strained into dragging every man in the country—within certain age limits—from his regular employment for several of the best years of his life, thus lessening his value as a worker and diminishing the country's producingpower. There is a very simple, straight-forward, and official method which virtually secures all the practical defensive advantage obtainable from conscription without the drawbacks of that objectionable system." " This is indeed interesting. Pray explain." " My opinion," answered the General, " one which I hold and long have held very strongly is that a certain amount of efficient military training should compulsorily form a part of every boy's regular education. That is to say, he should be thoroughly taught to use a rifle, and as thoroughly trained in military habits of discipline. This should not be any mere ' playing at soldiers,' but should be made an important and essential part of every boy's education. It would not impair his efficiency as a civilian; but, on the contrary, would improve him. Habits of discipline always stand a man in stead, and it certainly would not harm anybody to know how to use a rifle. Thus, if every boy left school a decent shot with the rifle, and with a sound practical knowledge of military drill, and familiar with discipline, there you would have splendid raw material for a future army. Indeed, it would be something much better than raw material, for it would be the best possible material more than half worked into shape. It would be a quick and easy operation to construct efficient armies out of such materials as these." " I presume you would make this school military training absolutely compulsory ? " " Absolutely," replied Sir John Ardagh. "It should in no case be optional, but should be as much a necessary and compulsory part of every boy's school education as reading, writing, and arithmetic. In public and private schools alike, I would have every boy in every school in the whole Empire thoroughly trained in this way. Then the Empire would never be at a loss for soldiers in case of need." It seemed to me that the New Zealand Government might do worse than to take up this idea and give it practical effect. New Zealand has led the world in so many things that she might well do so in this matter too. I remember that a similar idea was broached in New Zealand many years ago by the late Mr. Chantrey Harris, who indeed went further, and advocated that girls as well as boys should receive this training at school. " A schoolgirl who knows how to use a rifle," he once said to me, " could kill an enemy's soldiers just as well as any man could, and why should n't she in defence of .her country ? " Why not, indeed ? But at any rate we might begin with all the boys.

APPENDIX 11.

Statement showing the Number of Recognised Public-school Cadet Corps in the several Education Districts of the Colony on the 30th June, 1904; their respective Strengths, and the Increase during the Year.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, cot given ; printing (2,025 conies), £5.

By Autnoricy : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o4.

Price 6d.~]

2—B. Id.

Education Districts. CO ft rH O o o Sh CD r^ A cci fl ct3 a CD 0 CD 3 to tH 03 -,■-•> fl a CD -r^ 0 O 0 O o CD CO co -4^ fl cS CD fcuG Sh CD CQ rH P o *o o CO OJ & > "Eh CO "o o H 3 o EH H O CQ 0 "S -W ft crj O CC -r-i a o rH CD C/3 CC rH o Qh sh O Q Sh CO Ph Auckland Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington ... Wanganui 40 27 8 31 23 3i r 4: 2' 3' 2; 106 66 24 71 59 66 64 24 52 63 40 27 8 31 23 1,618 950 260 1,179 810 2,009 1,210 349 1,430 1,044 20 20 21 15 17 19 12 129 100 115 55 102 326 269 129 4,817 6,042 6,042 "Canterbury North Canterbury South Grey Nelson Otago Southland Westland Marlborough 14 8 7 10 34 8 3 4 13 7 3 3 28 7 3 4 16 8 6 7 26 6 3 4 6 3 3 4 28 2 2 2 9 6 3 4 16 5 2 4 35 25 37 15 86 16 5 12 30 27 12 15 73 16 3 12 14 8 7 10 34 8 3 4 695 373 174 432 1,729 325 95 155 832 465 252 500 2,054 393 119 201 4,816 88 68 76 50 49 231 188 88 3,978 4,816 Grand total of all ranks 168 191 105 151 557 457 217 8,795 10,858 Total number of corps 217 217 Total increase in the Noi Total increase in the Sot ■th Island ith Island Corps. 19 16 Cadecs. 888 878 Grand total inc: rease for the year 35 1,766