§ LORD EUSTACE CECILasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, 1051 looking to the state of urgency which was called attention to in the Royal Proclamation on Friday last, and to the favourable opportunity of obtaining recruits for the Militia in consequence of the depressed state of trade, immediate steps were being taken by the Government to bring up that force (now 30,000 men below the numbers voted by Parliament) to its proper strength?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONEvery exertion is being made to obtain recruits for the Militia, and no eligible man is refused. The number of recruits and re-enlisted men who joined during 1884 was 41,980, a larger number than have joined for some years. Since the 1st of January the average weekly number has been 900 men, or at the rate of more than 46,000 a-year. The enrolled strength of the Militia on the 1st of January, 1884, was 99,400, and on the 1st of February, 1885, it was 106,500, showing an increase of 7,100 men. The noble Lord is, no doubt, aware that the Militia has never been up to its Parliamentary strength.