HC Deb 19 March 1860 vol 157 cc926-7

House in Committee according to Order. Mr. Massey in the Chair.

(In the Committee.)

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

explained that besides alterations in form, one of the alterations in substance in the Bill referred to deserters from the Militia, and who enlisted into the Line. It was proposed that any man deserting from a militia regiment and enlisting in the Line should Le liable to be tried by court martial, but the Secretary for War, upon the confession of the man, might order him to be placed under stoppage of 1d. per diem until he has repaid the sum of 18s. 6d., and then the Secretary of War should determine whether the man should be sent back to his Militia regiment or not. The clause also provided that no part of the soldier's time of service should reckon towards a pension until the period for which he had entered the Militia had expired.

COLONEL DUNNE

said, he objected to the clause, as applying to disembodied as well as to embodied regiments of Militia. It was wrong to allow a man to desert and then to offer him a pardon at once. At present militia officers were frequently placed in great difficulties, not knowing what had become of their men.

COLONEL GILPIN

also objected to the plan as an encouragement and not a punishment for desertion.

In reply to COLONEL HERBERT,

MR. SIDNEY HERBERT

said, he had no objection to add to the clause a proviso to the following effect,—"That in cases of desertion from regiments within the United Kingdom the Secretary of State may not make such order without the consent of the Commanding Officer of the Militia Regiment from which the man has deserted." This clause would apply to deserters both from embodied and disembodied regiments.

Bill past through Committee.

House resumed.

Bill reported, without Amendment.

House adjourned at half-after One o'clock.