§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether anything can be done to place the Rifle Volunteer Corps of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge upon a more satisfactory footing and to attract more members of the Universities to join; and, whether, with that object, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the general condition of those corps during the last 10 years?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)Great efforts have been made to induce the Undergraduates to join these corps; but each has for some time been below the minimum number which would justify its continuance. I suppose that other athletic pursuits have greater attractions for them. Six months will be given to these two corps to raise their effective strength to the minimum number; and if by that time this has not been done, I shall have to consider the necessity of withdrawing the Adjutant and Staff.