§ SIR. HENRY HAVELOCKasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has considered the advisability of taking steps to prevent the men of the Army Reserve enrolling themselves also in the Militia, as it is currently reported that they do, by mustering them once a month during the militia training season, or by any other means; whether he proposes to encourage volunteering from the Militia to the Line, by inviting militia men to transfer their services to the latter, during or at the end of the training now going on; whether he proposes to encourage the increase of the Army Reserve by directing officers commanding regiments of the Line to give every facility to men desirous of passing into the Reserve after three years' service; and, whether, with a view to this end, he will consider the advisability of making some small increase to the pay of the Reserve in the shape of "deferred pay."
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, before I answer my hon. and gallant Friend, I wish to call the attention of the House to the character of his Questions. They are, in fact, inquiries as to the future policy of the War Department, and I am sure the House will not expect subjects which might lead to discussion to be raised by Questions of this kind. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that both with regard to the Reserve and the Militia the suggestions he has made are undergoing at the present moment every consideration.