§ MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the 879 annual training of Militia it frequently happens that the Poor Law Unions of the towns in which the regiments are quartered are obliged, in many cases, to support the wives and families of the men who are called up for service, and who, as a rule, are strangers in the Unions in which they receive relief; and whether he will take any steps to relieve the ratepayers from the burden of supporting those people during the period of training?
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Secretary of State for War has power, under the Army Act, to stop 3d. a day during training from the pay of a Militiaman towards the maintenance of his wife and family if it be shown to the Secretary of State's satisfaction that the man has deserted them, or, without reasonable cause, left them in destitute circumstances. If, therefore, application in the case to which the hon. Member refers had been made earlier, the regulated stoppage might have been made; but the Act gives no power to enforce arrears or to make stoppage from the bounty money, and as this battalion was dismissed from training two days ago nothing can now be done.