CENTRAL ASnSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER REGIMENTS. (To sat Emma or THE
" STECTAT08.") fiaa,—It is just en three years since you lent the weight of your rateable paper to help forward the work of the Central Associa- tion of Volunteer Training Corps. In those days people were very sceptical as to the utility of the Volunteers, but time has "pored the wisdom of your action. In spite of very little official encouragement, the movement grew, and the Centrist Association was able to offer to the War Office a highly organized force with units in almost every town in the United Kingdom. Owing to the gentle pressure of this Association, the Government attitude to the Volunteers has gradually changed, and now the force is being properly equipped with Service rifles, uniform, and even machine-gums, while their efficiency is assured by the provision et paid Adjutants and Instructors. What this Association has secomplished to bring this about your readers are all familiar with, but it has all grown out of the little fund that you opened in your columns. The work of the Association still continues— although its administrative powers have 'seen mostly transferred to the War Office—and it still accomplishes useful work in the Reining of officers, as an :Mwciation of County Commandants and those interested in the Volunteer Force.
A new• scope, however, for useful work has now opened to the Association. While the men of military age and those over military age have a hundred-and-one opportunities for training and discipline, the youth of tine country have been largely neglected. Excellent work has been done by the Church Lads' Brigade and the Boy Scouts, but only the fringe of the population has been touched. Out of a total available boy populations of one million seven hundred thousand, only oboist seventy thousand boys belong to recognized Corps. A vast majority of these boys belong to Secondary Schools, and the opportunities for boys of the working class are tantamount to ail. The matter has become a pressing one owing to the serious growth of juvenile crime—the result of so ninny fathers of families being absent at the war. Cedrt training, with its mph opportunities for inculcating discipline and providing reasonable recreation for the boys, seems the best way to counteract this evil.
The Army Council ha given authority to this Association to curry out propaganda throughout the country to encourage boys to join Cadet Corps. Where there are existing, Corps, the Asso- tiation will endeavour to help them to get recruits; where there are 110 Corps, tine Association will endeavour to help Volunteer Battalions to form Cadet Companies, so that the cost of providing new headquarters and separate machinery Will be saved. If any- thing substantial is to he stone, tine bays themselves must be reached, end for this purpose the Association has had made a film to he shown at picture palaces, and printed an attractive poster (designed Iny Hassell), ns well as leaflets and literature that are likely to get at the boys themselves. If substantial good is to be done, and done quickly, a considerable sum of money is required. The boy population wants to be thoroughly stirred up and made to take as much interest in physical training and Cadet Corps as it is at present giving to picture palaces.
If any of your readers could subscribe to tine Fund of the Asso- ciation for this purpose they will be doing a great thing for the future well-being of the country, bemuse in the youth are the future citizens of the nation. They can rest assured that any contribution given would go not to office expenses, or the payment of clerks, for width no feuds are required, but to the direct purpose of stimulating and encouraging the Cadet Movement throughout the country. Mr. C. J. Stewart (the Public Trustee) io the treasurer, end will be glad to receive contributions at the Public 'Trustee's Offices, Kingsway, W.C. 2.—I am, Sir, he., PERCY A. HARRIS, HOD. Secretary.
Hegel Courts of Justice, 11.C.
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