§ SIR BERNHARD SAMUELSON (Oxfordshire, Banbury)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, instead of calling out the Oxfordshire Militia for their 27 days' training on the 13th of June, an earlier day can be substituted, most of them being agricultural labourers, who would otherwise, after a winter in which employment has been very scarce, be deprived of the small addition to their wages which they are able to earn during the hay harvest?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The 4th Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry has usually been called out for training in the middle of June, and the officer commanding has not had any complaint from his men that the season is inconvenient. On one or two occasions 478 the battalion was trained in May, and the men then disliked the cold weather. It is believed that the balance of advantage lies with the season now chosen; but it would hardly be possible to select any period for training which would not inconvenience some members of the corps.