§ Order for Committee read.
§ House in Committee.
§ MR. ALCOCKsaid, that although he had to thank the Secretary for War for the explanation he had given on a previous occasion respecting the clothing supplied to British troops in India, great misconception still existed on the subject. The right hon. and gallant Member (General Peel) had expressed his belief that clothing adapted to the climate of India was supplied to Her Majesty's troops in that country, at the cost of the East India Company; but it appeared that such was not the case. The men were obliged to pay for the extra clothing, and also half the expense of their bedding. The cost was £2 to each soldier, and as there were now 92,000 Queen's troops in India, they were saddled with a charge of £184,000. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would cause this subject to be investigated. He might also state that soldiers on embarkation for India had another grievance to complain of. They were charged rather more than £2 each for what was called their "sea kit." He had received letters from two soldiers, who informed him that the articles in this kit were charged 50 per cent more than they could be obtained for elsewhere, and that many of them were totally useless. Each man, for a voyage of two or throe months, was supplied with nine cakes of pipeclay, which were said to be sufficient to last for twelve months; and they had also three boxes of blacking each, and two smockfrocks which were never worn at sea. The two charges to which he had referred, amounting together to £4, were deducted by stoppages from the soldier's pay, and amounted to two-thirds of his year's income. He had observed placards at the Horse Guards, offering bounties of £3 and £6 to recruits, but these inducements were calculated to mislead men who enlisted, and who were subjected to such deductions as he had mentioned. The right hon. Member for Wiltshire (Mr. S. Herbert) had some time ago argued in the country that, although the nominal pay of a soldier was only 13d. a day, it was practically almost double that amount; but he (Mr. Alcock) believed that it was not more than one-third.
GENERAL PEELsaid, that he had instituted inquiries immediately after the question had been put to him by the hon. Member, and representations had 401 been made to Sir Colin Campbell, with a view to the reduction of the stoppages to which soldiers were subjected on their arrival in India.
§ Bill passed through Committee.
§ House resumed; Bill reported as amended, to be considered To-morrow.
§ House adjourned at half after Twelve o'clock.