[BILL 123.] COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 3 August 1882)

§ COLONEL RUGGLES-BRISE

said, he wished to call attention to a number of details, which showed that the Militia was not prospering under the new system. The experience of the last few years in the county of Essex seemed to show that the Force was not so popular as it used to be, and recruiting had steadily fallen off. The enlistments numbered 411 in 1877, and they had since fallen as low as 220 in one year, and 107 in another. He believed, amongst other causes, this was due to the longer period of prior drill which recruits had now to undergo, and to the fact that they were mixed with the older soldiers at the depôt. The payment of 10s. per recruit having also been stopped, the effect was seen in the diminution of enlistments. The recruits not only lost more time than they formerly did, but since they had been taken out of the hands of the non-commissioned officers they were not so well treated as they used to be. The consequences were seen in applications for discharge, which 626 had risen to 60 in the year. He hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would follow Lord Cardwell in his treatment of the Militia, and not allow the local element to be disparaged. That element was not as readily forthcoming as it used to be, and the old local character of the Force was, therefore, not being maintained. He would only add that he thought that the commanding officers should have some voice in the selection of the officers of their battalions.