§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ THE EARL OF DERBYobjected to the proposed limitation of the age of persons to be balloted for the Militia, and which was a great variation from the existing practice. At present the age was fixed between eighteen and thirty-five; but this Bill would reduce it to between eighteen and thirty. That was, in his opinion, a useless and even mischievous alteration of the existing law, and he could not understand why men of thirty-five, or even up to forty or forty-five, should not be eligible for the Militia. Moreover, by diminishing the area over which the ballot would operate, its pressure would be proportionately increased upon those to whom it still extended.
EARL DE GREY AND RIPONsaid, there were good reasons for the proposed change. This reduction of the age could not be objected to on principle. Formerly the age was higher than thirty-five, and 480 now it was sought to lower it again to thirty. The alteration was proposed because it was thought it would be well to relieve persons above thirty of all anxiety on the score of the ballot, and that service in the Militia would be less inconvenient to men under that age. If, however, the noble Earl wished to raise the question, he might do so on the Report.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYwas certainly not disposed to take a division on the point in the present state of the House; but between thirty and thirty-five a man was just in the prime of life, and he must repeat that ho could not understand why he should be excused at that period from service in the Militia.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYfelt at a loss to understand why the number of persons from whom the Militia was to be chosen should be circumscribed. He did not wish to press forward a discussion then, but ho hoped the Under Secretary for War would reconsider the subject.
§ Amendments made; the Report thereof to be received on Tuesday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter-before Twelve o'clock, till To-morrow half-past Ten o'clock.