18 JAMES NANGLE. 



for probable trade depression or prosperity in any group 

 for a number of years ahead, and in making allowance for 

 possible abnormal occurrences retarding or accelerating 

 recruiting through ordinary channels such as apprenticeship 

 and immigration. 



The allotment of a definite number to be absorbed by 

 practically every calling in all the States of the Common- 

 wealth was a daring action, because unless it was found 

 possible during the discussions which would take place 

 when working out the scheme to agree to such allotment, 

 unending trouble and confusion would ensue. In some 

 instances, the allotments have been proved to be rather 

 wide of the mark, especially in the more sparsely populated 

 States. Fortunately, however, in the majority of cases, 

 the allotments have been found satisfactory. In this con- 

 nection it is worthy of note that the allotments have 

 generally been accepted by the various Soldiers' Industrial 

 Committees throughout the Commonwealth. The personnel, 

 functions, and powers of these committees will be discussed 

 at a later stage. It will be sufficient now to say that 

 Soldiers' Industrial Committees represented employers 

 and employees' organisations, and, consequently, were able 

 to express opinions of the greatest value on any matter 

 relating to absorptive capacities of the trades and callings 

 which they represented. 



Some attempt, even if only of the nature of a first approxi- 

 mation, had to be made to allot a number of men to each of 

 the callings in each State, otherwise there would have been 

 nothing to go upon in planning the arrangements for the 

 training and for the absorption of the men into civil life 

 after leaving the schools. Moreover, as already pointed 

 out, it was of economic importance that each calling 

 should receive into the ranks of its workers a just propor- 

 tion of the men trained. It was consequently necessary 



