§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact, as stated in The Star of the 7th instant, that George Kine, a boy who is now 13 years of age, was in March of last year charged at the Stratford Petty Sessions with playing truant, and sentenced to be detained for four years in the industrial training ship Shaftesbury; that after being so detained for 12 months he was, without the knowledge of his parents or friends, drafted into the band of the First Royal Warwickshire Regiment; that the boy has since written several letters to his friends complaining of the way in which he was entrapped into the Army, and begging of them to buy him out; whether he will state what the Rule is in regard to the transference of boys from industrial schools into the Army; whether, if boys of tender age consent to enter the Army, such consent has to be given in the presence of their parents, guardians, or friends; and whether bandmasters or any other person receive a gratuity or fee for boys they get transferred from industrial schools into the Army?
§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)Before the Home Secretary answers, I should like to ask him whether or not he is aware that the boy in question was 14 and not 13, that he was not charged with playing truant, but with stealing, and that the Managers of these schools have the power of sending boys to the Army without reference to the parents?
§ MR. ASQUITHFrom inquiries I have made on this subject it appears that the boy referred to was committed for frequenting the company of reputed thieves after a previous conviction for begging. Before his period of detention had expired he was enlisted, at his own request, in the band of the Warwickshire Regiment at Aldershot. This was done under the provisions of the Act 54 and 55 Viet., c. 23, by which the Managers of a certified reformatory or industrial school may in the case of an offender or child detained therein, with his own consent, dispose of him in any trade, calling, or service, and such disposition shall be as valid as if the Managers were his parents. I have no knowledge of any letters written by the boy complaining of the way in which he was entrapped into the Army, and begging to be bought out. If he has written such letters he appears to have written what was not true. The transfer of boys from industrial schools into trades or callings (including the Army) is regulated by the Act above referred to. The Act contains no reference to the age at which an offender may give his own consent, nor does it require the presence of the parents. In my opinion, it should not be put in force in the case of children of tender age. I am making further inquiries as to the age of the boy. I am informed that the bandmaster receives a fee of 10s. for each boy placed in a military or naval band. I confess I think this practice open to grave objection, and I will see if it cannot be modified.
§ MR. CREMERI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will be willing to receive evidence from the boy's father to the effect that the boy was bothered with questions from two or three officials to such an extent that he really did not know what they wanted him to do; that they promised him a week's holiday if he answered yes; that it was under the influence of that promise he 1594 so answered, and that he has bitterly complained since of having been so entrapped into the Army?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, Sir; I will receive and consider any statement properly authenticated which my hon. Friend likes to submit to me.