NATIONAL SERVICE BY CONSENT.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—With reference to "L. A. F.'s" letter, published in your columns of January 18th, I agree with "L. A. F." that " the cost of living, mess expenses, camp expenses, and so on, make it prohibitive for anyone [to hold a commissions without private means." But there seems no reason why this should not be altered. When a law for compulsory service is passed, it will be easy to pass a sumptuary law, limiting the expenditure on messing in camp, &a Why should an officer pay 12s. 6d. a day for messing in a Territorial camp P There is no necessity for such an outlay, though it is not an uncommon one at present. In Switzerland the rate of messing and other expenses for officers are fixed in such a manner as to make it possible for an officer to live on his pay. At the Military College in Australia, admission to which is open to all classes, Regulation No. 40 runs as follows : "No cadet will be permitted to receive money, or any other supplies, from his parents or guardians, or any person what- soever, without the sanction of the commandant. A most rigid. observance of this order is urged upon all parents and guardians, as its violation would make distinctions between the cadets, which it is particularly desired to prevent." I see no reason why we cannot make similar laws; in fact, I am convinced that some sumptuary law limiting officers' expenses will be necessary if universal compulsory training is to be a success in this country. It is clear from "L. A. F.'s" letter that he has not yet read the League leaflet dealing with the provision of officers for the Territorial Force, when recruited under a system of Compulsory Military Training. Will he not write direct to the offices of the National Service League, 72 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. P—I am, Sir,
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