§ LORD ELCHOwished to put a Question to his right hon Friend the Secretary of State for War in order to ascertain his opinions with respect to those Easter Monday Reviews. The Reviews in question were spontaneous on the part of the Metropolitan Volunteers, who were not compelled to take part in them; they were originated by Lord Ranelagh about four years ago, they had met with great success, and become very popular. The opinion of General Ellice last year was favourable to these reviews. It was said to their disparagement that the Volunteers were only anxious to show themselves, that the Reviews did not contribute to efficiency, and that they ought to be discouraged. Sir Hope Grant was the first to issue a Report that was unfavourable, and a letter was in consequence addressed to the Secretary of State asking whether he would give them his sanction. A reply was received from Lord Northbrook last year on the part of the Secretary of State, to the effect that the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief did not think these Reviews contributed to efficiency, but that if the Volunteers wished, permission would be accorded to hold them. They held their Review last Easter Monday, and the Report of the Quartermaster General was favourable. Subsequently a new regulation came out from the War Office, which stated that those large Reviews should not be counted towards efficiency. The impression produced was that the Secretary of State wished to discourage them. The Metropolitan commanding officers met to consider what they should do on Easter Monday, and they came to the conclusion to ask the Secretary of State whether he thought it was desirable that these Reviews should be held. The answer they received was not a direct answer, but merely stated that in the event of the commanding officers thinking it desirable that such Reviews should be held, he would not object to it. They were however already aware that there was no objection on their part, but they had hoped to learn whether in the opinion of the Secretary of State they were or were not desirable. The Metropolitan commanding officers felt it would be indecorous 290 in them to enter into any correspondence on the subject, and resolved that, in the absence of any expression of opinion that these Reviews were conducive to the good of the force, it was not desirable that they should go out this year. The hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. H. B. Samuelson) had asked the Question whether any objection was raised on the part of the Secretary of State to these Reviews, but the question which ought to have been put was whether the right hon. Gentleman considered these Reviews were or were not beneficial to the force. That was the Question he wished now to put, in no hostile spirit, but in the interest of the force, which he knew the right hon. Gentleman had at heart.
§ MR. CHARLEYremarked that the Metropolitan Volunteers were strongly in favour of the Easter Monday Reviews, as much advantage accrued to them from parading with the regular forces. He wished to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cardwell) had any objection to a Review of the Guards and of the Volunteers of London taking place on Easter Monday; and if not, whether he would give orders that it should take place?
§ MR. CARDWELLin reply, said, that in reference to the last question, if it was desired to have an answer from him upon a military arrangement he should have had notice to enable him to consult the military authorities upon the subject. With regard to the Questions of his noble Friend (Lord Elcho), he would say, in the first place, that he had always considered that the main reason for not holding the Easter Monday Review this year was one which had reference to railway fares. [Lord ELCHO: That was one element.] He understood it was no inconsiderable element. Two years ago Sir Hope Grant, who commanded at Aldershott, reviewed the Volunteers at Brighton, and his opinion was unfavourable to holding these Reviews at all in the manner in which they were held. His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief expressed his concurrence in the opinion so expressed. That was made known to the Volunteer officers, who expressed their willingness to accommodate themselves to any new arrangements that might be suggested. The War Office was, therefore, willing to facilitate the holding of these Reviews under new arrangements, and the 291 of the Quartermaster-General was much more favourable than that of Sir Hope Grant. Then came the question whether there should be a Review this year, and he (Mr. Cardwell) was asked to express an opinion whether it was desirable it should be held. This divided itself into two parts, and so far as the military question was concerned he could not hold a different opinion from that expressed by the Commander-in-Chief and other military authorities; but as these Reviews were exceedingly popular, and were supposed to tend to encourage the force, as a sincere friend to the Volunteer cause, and wishing that their numbers and efficiency should he kept up, he had no hesitation in expressing his wish to encourage them on that ground. With regard to the military grounds, the War Office stood simply upon the Reports of Sir Hope Grant and General Ellice. If the Volunteer officers made an application for an Easter Review to the Government, he should be prepared to give to it his cordial concurrence; and he thought he could promise that the military authorities would do all they could to make such arrangements as were calculated to produce the effects mentioned in General Ellice's letter. He repeated he should give his cordial support to every measure tending to make the force a popular and useful one, and he was confident that His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief and those immediately under him, would most willingly co-operate with him in that object. The Report of the Royal Commissioners was against attendance at Easter Monday Reviews counting towards efficiency.
§ LORD ELCHOasked whether the officers of the force might come to the conclusion that the Reviews, as they had been conducted since the Report of Sir Hope Grant, were viewed with favour by the right hon. Gentleman?
§ MR. CARDWELLhad already stated that he would stand by the Report of General Ellice.
§ MR. CHARLEYgave notice that he would repeat his Question to the right hon. Gentleman to-morrow.
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, the initiative rested with the commanding officers of the Volunteer force, and if they should hold a meeting and address a letter conveying the result to him, he would give it every consideration.