SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
A further difficulty is the lack of preliminary education of the right 
kind. This difficulty is wrapped up with that mentioned in the last 
paragraph, and might best be overcome by a system of pre-vocational 
or “junior technical” schools, in which a good course of modern educa- 
tion (mental and manual) is given, from 12 to 15 years of age, whereby 
it will be the chief business of the teachers to discover the special 
aptitudes of each lad, and to assist in placing him in that trade or 
profession for which his abilities are snited and the demand exists. In 
the last year of the course it is intended to embrace, in addition to the 
advanced stages of craft work, such subjects as computations of costs, 
some historical studies, and an introduction to economics. 
Industrial conditions, which have so important a bearing on this 
question, are somewhat different in South Australia from those of other 
States. For instance, no limitation is placed on the number of inden- 
tured apprentices, except in one trade. -It has been suggested that a 
step towards further development would be a Compulsory Apprenticeship 
Act, to cut out that undesirable drifter, “the improver.” Another 
suggested movement for the uplift of the status of the skilled and 
efficient craftsman is a “ Registration of Tradesmen ” Act, such as is in 
force in some States for plumbers and electrical workers. These are, 
however, matters for the future. For the present, a good system of 
pre-vocational schools (12-15 years of age), followed by apprentice- 
ship under an Act such as that outlined above for apprentices’ part- 
time education, will give to each trade a greatly increased efficiency, to 
the workmen a higher status and increased joy in life, and to the 
general public a body of skilled craftsmen that will be an invaluable 
asset for the State. 
“They gave it into your hands, Australians, when the bullet took 
them. It lies in your hands now—you, the younger generation of 
Australia ; you, the men of the A.IF., most of whom are still young 
Australians ; even to the young Australians still at school. Australia 
lies in your hands now, where those men, dying, laid her. This is not 
mere fancy—it is the simple, splendid truth. You have a much bigger 
task facing you than the Australian Force in France and at Anzac had. 
It is the same great task really; but the A.LF. only began it.” 
—C. E. W. BEAN. 
Nv VY 
AIT W\__ ZZ Ae 
504 
