Meanwhile we are strongly in favour of the military authorities
enlarging at both ends their definition of military age for voluntary enlistment. We would like men to be allowed to enlist up to forty- five, provided, of course, that the doctors would pass them as sound
in wind and limb. Plenty of work can be found for sound men over forty. We would further allow every boy of seventeen and over who wanted to join the colours to do so. From many points of view the inclusion of the boys between seventeen and nineteen would be an enormous gain. Even if comparatively few of these boys were ready to go to the front before the war ended, their six months of good food, open-air life, and military training under present war conditions would have done an immense deal of permanent good to the physique of the rising generation. Without. question the boys through their rapid and intensive military education would gain an alertness and an open-mindedness which would serve them in good stead in the 'battle of life which lies before them—a battle bound to be arduous under the conditions of the future. To miss such an opportunity for improving our lads physically, mentally, and morally would be a capital error.
