§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the third reading of the Militia Bill.
§ Mr. Humetook that opportunity of asking the Secretary at War, whether any reduction was to be made in this branch of the service? He considered the whole Militia force a useless expense.
§ Mr. Ellicesaid, that according to the suggestion of the Committee which had sat upon the subject, orders had been given for an inspection of the whole Militia Staff of England. That inspection was not yet quite finished, and some time 933 would be required to arrange the reports which would necessarily be very voluminous, so that they could not be laid before Parliament this Session, as would have been done if they had been ready in time. He could, however, state, that a considerable reduction had been made in the estimates this year below those of last year; and it was determined that the greatest possible care should be taken, under the discretion of the Secretary of State, that no useless appointments or promotions should be made, nor any vacancies unnecessarily filled up. There was no doubt that in another Session some proposition would be submitted, either for making the Militia Staff efficient for the public service, or for reducing; it altogether. He inclined to the opinion of the Committee, that it would be better to make it an efficient Staff, and that it might thus be rendered very beneficial for the purposes of the public peace; but the whole subject would meet with the careful consideration of the Government.
§ The Bill read a third time and passed.