§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will favourably consider an increase in the grant to the National Association for the Employment of Discharged and Reserve Soldiers, taking into consideration the fact that the Inspector General of Recruiting attributes the falling off in recruits to the want of employment for old soldiers, and that this is the only institution in the country which provides employment for reserve and discharged men?
§ ٭ MR. E. STANHOPEI should be very glad to help this deserving institution, but, after full consideration, the Government find this difficulty in the way. The total expenditure of the Association of late years has not been much over £500 a year. To increase the Government grant from £200 to £500 a year would practically amount to a transfer of the whole of the current expenditure of the institution to Votes of Parliament. We have also found that, concurrently with the receipt of a Government grant of £200, the outside subscriptions have steadily dwindled from £633 in 1886–7 to £314 1070 in 1889–90. The principle we desire to lay down is that the institution must be supported by outside subscriptions supplemented by a Government grant bearing some proportion to the subscriptions. Personally, I shall be glad to co-operate with my hon. and gallant Friend and others interested in gaining increased public support to the institution; and I hope that the prospect of success will be all the greater if it is understood that the Government will be inclined to meet it by an increased contribution.