§ SIR JOSEPH BAILEYasked the Secretary of State for War, If he would state what is the amount annually derived from fines for drunkenness in militia regiments in Great Britain and Ireland; to what purpose the money is applied, and would there be any objection in future to allow officers in command of regiments to use this money which comes out of the pay of the men for purposes of recreation for the men under their command?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, that it was intended to refer the question during the Recess to a Departmental Committee. There was a difficulty about it. The amount raised annually from that source varied very much. In 1870–1 the amount was £230, and in the six following years the amounts respectively were £584, £598, £627, £696, £789, and £676. The total amount now in hand was £4,204. With 1668 regard to the power of officers in command to distribute this money there seemed to be this difficulty—that according to what the hon. Member suggested in his Question, the most drunken regiments would get the most.