§ Question again proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."
§ COLONEL STANLEY,resuming, said, he had already pointed out how the matter stood with regard to the Reserve men. Undoubtedly, it was hard for the wife of a Reserve man who had a good situation, as a policeman, or on a railway, to find herself reduced to an income far below that to which she was ordinarily accustomed; but the State could not take account of social differences, and it was bound to consider all Army Reserve men as being on an equal footing. It was not possible, in dealing with their families, to consider the situation they held in civil employment. He had pointed out the relief they had endeavoured to give, and very few complaints had been received from the women themselves. One such complaint came from the mother of a Reserve 1395 man taking care of his children, who thought she was entitled to the same allowance as the wife would have been. If, on full investigation, he found it necessary, he would bring the matter under the notice of the House; but he did not anticipate that that would be the case, and at present he had no proposal to make.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.