§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the case that the Militia Force is 561 officers below its establishment, and if his attention has been called to an advertisement in The Army and Navy Gazette of 22nd instant, for officers for the Kilkenny Militia, in the following terms:—
5th Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment (Kilkenny Militia); Several commissions for Lieutenants are vacant.—Applications will be duly considered by the Commanding Officer at Kilkenny;and, whether this dearth of officers has accrued since the inauguration of the territorial system, and how long it has been the practice to advertise for candidates for commissions?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONYes, Sir; the number of vacancies for subaltern officers is as stated by the hon. Member, the number having increased since the introduction of the territorial system in 1881; but the vacancies have no apparent connection with the territorial system. Among other causes, I may mention compulsory retirement by age; the temporary reduction of the number of Line commissions allotted to the Militia from 120 to 60; and the non-training of the Irish Militia for some years. The advertisement referred to by the hon. Member is the first of the kind that has come under my notice, and I have given orders for its withdrawal.