er to avoid falling between two stools he decided to recommend
to the Government to call for tenders throughout the world. I had
impressed upon him that this was essential in order to test the _bona
fides_ of the tenderers. Tenders were called for. I had gained my point,
for I knew that if the confidential reports of my agents were fairly
correct, the amount of the American tenders would be close on 50 per
cent. lower than any others, as no European country, bar England and
Germany, was in a position to undertake the order. I accordingly then
informed Mr. Playford of my views on the matter and patiently waited for
the day when the tenders were due. I shall not forget Mr. Playford's
chagrin when he found that my forecast had been verified to the letter.
If I remember correctly the American lowest tender was some L97,000, the
lowest English one some L140,000. As the tenderers were a well-known firm
of high standing in the United States (contractors to their Government)
their offer was accepted and the factory was established at Lithgow.

I had been successful all round, and scored at last off Playford.

General Hutton left Australia; the Army Council and Military Board were
established. General Finn, a cavalry officer, who, at the time of the
inauguration of the Commonwealth in 1901 was Commandant of Queensland,
and had afterwards succeeded General French as Commandant in New South
Wales, was appointed Inspector-General. General Hoad became Chief of the
General Staff and Senior Member of the Military Board.

My term of office as Commandant of Victoria expired. I was offered the
command of "The Mother State," New South Wales, which became vacant on
the appointment of General Finn as Inspector-General. I accepted. It was
one more step to my final goal.

CHAPTER III

COMMANDANT OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Shortly after I took up the command in New South Wales an incident
occurred which gave the first real impetus to the serious consideration
and final adoption by the Government of the system of universal service
as proposed by me eleven years before when Commandant in Adelaide. I had
arranged to read a paper to my officers in New South Wales. Owing to the
fact that our own military institute was not sufficiently large to
accommodate them we had made arrangements to hire one of the big public
halls, and we had decided to ask the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman Allan
Taylor, to take the chair and to send invitations to man