§ COLONEL RUGGLES-BRISEasked the Secretary of State for War, in reference to the order to Militia officers to change their lace, facings, and accoutrements, Whether he is aware that a statement made by him has been interpreted by Militia officers generally (not Rifle Regiments) to mean that they have the right for many years to come to appear at a levee, or on parade, with a gold lace sash and a silver lace waistbelt, or with a helmet with silver plate, and gold lace on the tunic, or at mess with gold lace on jacket, and silver lace on waistcoat; and, if the above is not the correct interpretation of the statement, whether he will further consider the great expense that is entailed upon Militia officers (not Rifle 540 Regiments) by these changes, and make a proportionate allowance to meet those expenses similar to that which is proposed for Rifle Regiments?
§ SIR HERVEY BRUCEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will re-consider the amount proposed to be given to Militia officers obliged to purchase new uniforms owing to a change in their Regiments, as£25 will be wholly inadequate for the purpose?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, perhaps the hon. Baronet the Member for Coleraine will allow me to answer his Question at the same time as that of the hon. and gallant Gentleman. In doing so I must be permitted to remind the House that since 1857 there have been no less than 15 occasions on which Militia regiments have been ordered to alter their uniforms to and from Rifle, Artillery, Highland, red, and Fusilier dress, and that in no case was any allowance made to officers. In the same way the Yeomanry were ordered in 1877 to alter their lace from gold to silver, and no allowance was made to them, time only being given to make the change. I must express my regret that at the present time, when the change from silver to gold has been urgently pressed upon us by the general wish of Militia officers, and when for the first time we are making an allowance of£25 to each officer in every case of compulsory change of the more expensive character, these claims for money should be set up. In June last the clearest instructions were given as to the change from silver to gold, and officers were allowed full time to make it. Of course, nobody anticipated that they would think of wearing a mongrel uniform; and I, therefore, can only reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Essex that the change must be complete, and may be deferred as long as the officer wishes before it becomes necessary to replace the uniform he possesses. To the hon. Baronet I can only say that, compared with the 15 cases I have spoken of, the grant of£25 a-head is liberal, and I have no intention to increase it.