§ MR. A. M'ARTHURcalled attention to the overcrowding in many barracks throughout the country, and contended that the Secretary of State for War would not succeed in getting steady and respectable men for recruits, if, in addition to increasing the soldiers' pay, he did not provide them with proper accommodation in their barracks. There were, he must admit, difficulties in the way of carrying out improvements in this respect at some of the barracks, where the space was limited, but that was not the case at 1767 Aldershot and other places, where the room was abundant. He thought that from £200,000 to £300,000 might be well spent in increasing the comfort of soldiers at those places, instead of devoting the money to increasing the Army, because he believed it would hold out an inducement to men to stay longer in the service than they did now. He hoped the Secretary of State would direct his attention to this important subject.
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILsaid, the Secretary for War had had this subject under his consideration for some time, and it was one in which his right hon. Friend toot a great interest. As the hon. Member had admitted, there were difficulties to contend with—such as the peculiar construction of casemates and the difficulty of ventilation—and very little could be done under the circumstances; but what little could be done would be done by his right hon. Friend.