Military Training 201 



of either his mental or moral powers. It may, 

 we believe, be safely stated that if in childhood 

 a boy or girl belonging to the class referred to is 

 placed under fairly favourable hygienic condi- 

 tions and properly trained, he or she would 

 grow up to be a useful member of the working 

 classes. 



By far the majority of lads attending our 

 elementary State-supported schools are thrown 

 on their own resources to gain their living after 

 they have reached the age of fourteen years. 

 As Mr. Freeman has shown, it is during the fol- 

 lowing three years that, having no settled 

 employment, and frequently unwholesome 

 wretched homes, they too often fall into bad 

 company and lazy habits, thus as they grow up 

 to manhood becoming unprofitable members of 

 society. To avoid this state of things it seems 

 to us that if within a year of leaving school a 

 boy has not obtained some fixed and fairly 

 remunerative employment, he should be com- 

 pelled to undergo a course of training as a 

 military cadet or be sent to a training ship; 

 during these years he should be taught a trade 

 or some other occupation which would enable 



