ARMY — NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. (Hansard, 5 July 1880)

§ MR. CHILDERS

In reply to the hon. and gallant Member, I must distinctly decline to admit the allegation that it is an acknowledged fact that very serious deterioration has taken place among the non-commissioned officers of the regiments of the Line, or that this is the result of Lord Cardwell's Re-organization Scheme of 1871. In many respects the non-commissioned officers of the Line have improved since 1871. They are better educated, as shown by the last general annual Return presented to Parliament; and I find that as to punishment the number reduced to the ranks is less. But they are, on the average, made non-commissioned officers at a younger age than in 1871; and in the opinion of many commanding officers some of them have in consequence not sufficient experience. It is also alleged that greater difficulty than formerly is found in retaining their services, although I find that 71 per cent of the sergeants who completed six years' service in 1879 elected to continue with the Colours. Under these circumstances, although questions affecting the non-commissioned officers are intimately connected with the general question of the organization of the Army, which we shall have to consider on the Report of Lord Airey's Committee, I have arrived at the conclusion that this is the most pressing branch of the subject, and we shall take it up without delay. Perhaps I may add that both the German and French Military Department are experiencing the same difficulties as ourselves with respect to non-commissioned officers, although their Armies are recruited in a 1630 very different way, and the problem in the face of social circumstances of the present day appears to be a very difficult one throughout Europe. I cannot name any particular date for proceeding in this matter, which is one of 80 or 100 most important questions that I found on assuming Office had to be dealt with.