Chapter 35 Relief and Public Order
His Homan came and went in a flash. After successfully securing Arthur's support, he quickly set off on his return journey to Europe to seek backing from other national football associations for the creation of the long-awaited FIFA.
What? You're wondering what happened to His Homan's role as Secretary General of the Dutch Football Association?
His Homan wasn't a fool—anyone would know to choose the position of FIFA Secretary General over a national association's secretary.
August 11, 1900, Sydney.
The government building was particularly busy that day—or rather, one specific room within it was unusually active.
It wasn't that this was a national holiday, but for the people of Australia, this day was one worth celebrating and remembering.
After months of secret investigation and preparation, the Royal Relief Committee that Arthur had promised outside the New South Wales parliament finally launched its first operation: distributing food for free in every Australian city.
Although the Relief Committee, based on the data it had gathered over time, filtered recipients by excluding individuals earning over ten pounds a year or households with an income over twenty pounds, the number of recipients still exceeded one-third of the population—more than 1.2 million people.
Fortunately, Australia had already achieved self-sufficiency in grain production, and the Relief Committee was able to procure all the needed food domestically.
8:00 AM, on the streets of Sydney.
Due to a lack of manpower, each city had only one distribution site, but the food distribution was scheduled to last one and a half months.
During this time, as long as someone was verified as low-income, they could receive a free ration.
Though each ration was technically "one portion," it was no small amount: two sacks of flour, one bag of potatoes, one bag of seasonal vegetables, and one carton of milk.
This was enough food for any individual to eat for several months and was a testament to Arthur's determination to provide relief to all impoverished Australians.
Each portion cost about 1 pound and 5 shillings. If all estimated low-income Australians claimed their share, the Relief Committee would spend at least 1.5 million pounds.
But the expense was undoubtedly worthwhile. First, it allowed Arthur to fulfill his promise, reinforcing and consolidating his position in the hearts of the Australian people.
Second, a food distribution campaign of this scale could greatly enhance the public's goodwill toward Arthur.
After all, who wouldn't admire a monarch who steps in during a time of need?
As the food relief operation progressed, Arthur began inspecting the streets of Sydney.
In the last cabinet meeting, Arthur had repeatedly emphasized that the Ministry of Public Security must restore order in a short period of time and drastically reduce crime across the country.
And it seemed that Australia was indeed changing. Government-hired sanitation workers kept the streets immaculately clean, giving the city a more modern appearance—even if the buildings weren't particularly tall.
Arthur was quite satisfied with Sydney's current state. Compared to when he had first arrived, the city had shed much of its former disorder and gained a sense of cleanliness and order.
"Minister Thomas, the Ministry of Public Security has done a fine job recently. Sydney feels much more modern than before," Arthur said with a smile to the respectful Thomas Czech, Minister of Public Security, walking beside him.
"Yes, Your Highness. Thanks to the thousand troops you assigned to us, we were able to swiftly dismantle several dangerous gangs and reestablish order. The streets of major cities are now much cleaner, and the crime rate has dropped significantly," Minister Thomas replied eagerly, taking the opportunity to praise Arthur.
"How are the police stations progressing in each city? Any issues with recruiting officers?" Arthur followed up.
Australia had no formal police academies. Officers were recruited from the general population and put to work after only brief training.
This system was full of flaws. Police were future firearm carriers, and giving a gun to someone without a strong sense of duty or responsibility was a recipe for disaster.
"Your Highness, construction of the police stations is underway, though progress varies by city. But it doesn't matter whether the buildings are finished yet. Until the new officers finish training, station construction won't impact public order," Thomas explained.
Arthur had revised the police training program, not only extending the duration several times over, but also emphasizing the development of responsibility and professionalism.
What used to be a one-week crash course now lasted at least three months. Only after proving loyalty to the country and crown, and demonstrating a sense of duty, could an officer begin official work.
And even then, it wasn't over. After becoming a full police officer, one had to undergo an additional three-month probation before being issued a firearm.
Compared to other countries' rudimentary training systems, this was already much more comprehensive. It significantly reduced the risk of officers lacking professionalism and ensured that most of them took their duties seriously after six months of filtering.
"Good. You're taking the right approach. The training of police officers and the construction of police stations must not be rushed. Though Australia currently lacks manpower, we must still select the best and cultivate elite officers. Police are the cornerstone of Australia's public safety, and their selection must be as rigorous as military recruitment. I will not tolerate any future issues with officers—especially those who carry guns," Arthur instructed.
In many countries, especially in colonies, police systems were underdeveloped and chaotic.
Under such circumstances, armed officers held unchecked power, and if even one lacked morality or professionalism, they could pose a serious threat to civilians.
And who would bear responsibility for that? Naturally, the government.
In Australia, that responsibility would fall on the government and the monarchy—and ultimately, all power was concentrated in Arthur's hands.
This meant that if anything went wrong, Arthur himself would take the blame.
And for someone who deeply valued his reputation and public prestige, that was absolutely unacceptable.
That was why Arthur placed such great importance on refining the police recruitment system.
(End of Chapter)
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