§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, having regard to the fact that Bands in the Militia are almost entirely supported by voluntary subscriptions and stoppages of pay from the officers, he will for this year make some allowance to the Bands of Irish Militia regiments, to enable them to tide over the difficulties consequent on there being no training, and therefore no pay issued to officers.
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, the noble Lord mentioned this subject to me privately some time ago, and, with every desire to meet his wish, I have been considering it with the departmental officers concerned. The difficulty is that officially the War Office has no knowledge of Militia bands. The men are Militiamen, paid as such, and assisted by officers' contributions. As the regiments are not called up for training, I fear I have no legal power to make any payments for this purpose.