18 JANUARY 1908, Page 3

The County Associations, of, which there are seventy-five, to manage

and control the Territorial Army, have now taken shape, and were gazetted on Tuesday. We are glad to note that in the great industrial centres the co-opted members usually include representatives of the artisan class. The Daily Mail of Wednesday gives the full composition of a typical Association—that of Warwickshire—chosen because it is half urban and, half agricultural, Birmingham being within its boundaries. Among the members is included the Lord Mayor of Birmingham for the time being and a repre- sentative of the University of Birmingham, who in this case, we note with interest, is Mr. Neville Chamberlain, an able representative of a family which has never grudged time or energy to the public service. The County Associations must, of course, be judged by the work they do ; but Mr. Haldane may be congratulated upon having started them under the best possible auspices. He has thrown the whole of his intellectual skill, tact, and energy into getting the chief elements in every county to combine in the common work, and with the happiest results. When the day comes, and we trust it may come soon, for the whole of the youth of Britain to be given the privilege of learning the use of arms in defence of their country, the County Associations should prove bodies well qualified to undertake the work.