ADAMSON IN PUBLIC LIFE 181 also prohibited. At the end of August, 1917, the Head­ masters considered a report that after the matches, Xavier College V. Scotch College, and Wesley College v. Melbourne Grammar School, on the previous week "war cries" had been used. On the evidence it appeared that the Wesley "war cry" had been used by a number of boys from Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School. The Headmasters considered that the use of "war cries" constituted a "regrettable inci- dens", and a resolution was carried that as "war cries" were used at and after two recent football matches, and there were gatherings of boys to shout at each other after these matches, thus constituting "regrettable incidents", the Pub­ lic Schools competitions for the remainder of the year were suspended. The effect of this was that there were no com­ bined sports in 1917, and no cricket premiership. As soon as the Third Term commenced the captains of the six Associated Public Schools held a meeting, and sent a letter to the Headmasters, asking if under certain condi­ tions and under certain guarantees for the future the com­ petitions might be allowed to proceed. The Headmasters held a special meeting on 22nd Sep­ tember to consider this letter, and finally instructed the Hon. Secretary of the Headmasters to write to the Captains of the Public Schools in the following terms:— "The Headmasters regret that they cannot see their way to alter their decision of 30th August, but they fully appreciate the good motives which prompted the action of the Captains, and consider that had such a letter been re­ ceived before the meeting of 30th August, it might have materially influenced their attitude." The opinion was expressed that the meeting of the Pub­ lic School Captains to discuss matters concerning the general welfare of the schools was an excellent innovation, likely to have a far-reaching influence for good in the future. Replying to the arguments in the Captains' letter, the Headmasters freely admitted the contention that the earlier part of the year was conspicuously free from anything to .