750 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION I/. 



The expense of this training, as part of the educational system, is wholly 



included in the ordinary Education Budget. 



Certain provision is made for 'religious objectors' and 'anti-militarists.' 

 Eeports by the Premiers of the various States of the Commonwealth give 



ample testimony to the success of the system. 



Neio Zealand. — By the Defence Act of 1910-11, compulsory military training 

 is provided for every male person between the ages of 14 and 35 years. Between 

 the ages of 12 and 14 the boy receives a certain amount of physical training in 

 the elementary school. At 14 he joins the Senior Cadet Corps, his subsequent 

 training being now conducted on lines similar to the Australian system. 



South Africa. — The Defence Act of 1912 provides that all boys between the 

 ages of 13 and 17 years shall undergo a prescribed course of military training 

 annually. The Act provides for compulsory military training ' only where it 

 can be carried out efficiently,' i.e., in urban and populous areas. In scattered 

 districts Defence Rifle Associations are formed. 



iSwerfen.— Compulsory military training was introduced into Swedish schools 

 fifty years ago. Military exercises are given in all secondary schools, special 

 empha.sis being placed on rifle practice, at which 60 hours annually must be 

 spent by every boy between the ages of 15 and 18 years inclusive. In elemen- 

 tary schools physical exercises are given regularly, but no rifle practice. 



Nor%oay.—Th& system here is similar to that of Sweden. 



The value of this military training is estimated by referring to the reports 

 of the respective Governments. All these reports describe the compulsory 

 system of training as a great success, both from the point of view of the hoy 

 as an individual and the nation as a whole. 



In the British ' System,' which is entirely voluntary, much excellent work is 

 done by various voluntary organisations, such as Church Lad.s' Brigades, Minia- 

 ture Rifle Clubs, School Cadet Corps, Boy Scouts, &c., and it becomes necessary 

 to decide whether or not such a voluntary system could be improved by adopting 

 a more centralised and systematic Government organisation of Cadet Corps on 

 lines, say, similar to that of the Australian system. 



Many interesting questions for discussion will immediately suggest them- 

 selves, e.g. : (1) Is the adoption of the compulsory system of training an indica- 

 tion of ' Militarism ' ? — To answer this question it is interesting to compare 

 the cases of Germany and Switzerland or Australia. 



(2) At what age should this training commence ? — The ' stages of growth ' 

 (physical and mental) of a boy must necessarily be considered in this connection. 



(3) ' Military Training ' or ' Physical Exercises ' in Elementary Schools ? — 

 The solutions of (1) and (2) answer this question automatically. 



(4) With regard to boys who leave the elementary school without going on 

 to the Secondarv School, the same series of questions arise as in the discussion 

 of the problem of Evening Continuation Schools. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 

 The following Reports and Papers were read : — 



1. Report on. the Influence, of School Books on Eyesight. 

 See Eeports, p. 234. 



2. Report on Scholarships. — See Eeports, p. 238. 



