COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether Clause 4 in the Army Enlistment Act, which says—"that the Secretary of State may from time to time vary the conditions of service," will have the effect of preventing a soldier when he enlists from knowing 787 whether he is engaging for three years' Army service or 12 years' Army service, at the option of the Secretary of State; and, whether Clause 5 limits the power of the Secretary of State to continue soldiers for twelve years' Army service to periods of imminent national danger, or, whether he, the Secretary, will at all times have that power?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the 4th clause of the Army Enlistment Act expressly says—that the period can only be varied with the soldier's free assent. Taken in conjunction with the 3rd clause, the effect is that the period is specified in the attestation paper, and can only be varied by the Secretary of State with the free assent of the soldier. I may take the opportunity of saying that though three years are specified as a minimum for the time with the colours, the intention is that in general the engagement shall be for 12 years in all—six with the colours and six in the Reserve. The 5th clause specifies the only circumstances under which it will be in the power of the Secretary of State to require a man to return to the colours when he has once passed into the Reserve.