§ EARL PERCYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the fact that the non-commissioned officers of the Militia Reserve are at present receiving the same rate of pay as the privates of the Reserve; and, if so, whether he will consider the propriety of their rank in the Militia being recognized either by an increased rate of pay or by a larger bounty on the completion of their service with the regular forces?
§ COLONEL STANLEYSir, the Militia Reserve Act (30 & 31 Vict.) makes no provision for Militia Reserve men entering upon Army service carrying with them the rank which they held in the Militia at the time of their entering upon such service, although it does prescribe that on their return to the Militia they shall resume their position. The Regulations provide that they shall be treated and paid as privates, on entering upon Army service, whatever their rank in the Militia may be. Considering that a very large proportion of the non-commissioned officers of Militia—in some Militia regiments all—are Reserve men, it would be impossible to permit all to carry with them into the Army the rank they have in the Militia; but as the fact of their joining the Army gives an increase to its number of non-commissioned officers, it is but fair that the Militia non-commissioned officers should to some extent share in the increase. This has been acknowledged, and a circular letter was addressed to general officers commanding districts at home in May last, desiring officers commanding regiments, so far as they were able, to promote to the rank of non-commissioned officers such men of the Militia Reserve as had held noncommissioned rank in the Militia, provided they were good and efficient men. As regards the latter part of the Question, we can only give a higher rate of pay to such Militia Reserve men as hold the position of non-commissioned officers in the Army; and the bounty is not 497 given to a Militia Reserve man for his actual service in the Army, but for his liability thereto.