§ Order for Third Reading Read.
§ Motion made, and Question put, "That the Bill be now Read the Third time."
§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)asked for an explanation of the Measure.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildfordsaid that there was a matter of doubt on the point by what process lines and penalties imposed on Volunteers for not making themselves efficient were recoverable. It was absolutely necessary that this doubt should be set at rest, and that the Bill would do.
§ MR. HUDSON KEARLEY (Devonport)said that the Bill was introduced to meet the adverse decisions of certain magistrates on cases against Volunteers.
§ *MR. BRODRICKsaid that the Bill did not alter the law, but simply put beyond doubt the law as it stood, according to the Opinions of the best lawyers.
§ MR. KEARLEYsaid that the question had been tested in the Courts, and the opinions of the best lawyers had been found to be wrong. There would be great hardship to many young men who had been induced to join the Volunteers in a moment of enthusiasm, and who were prevented from putting in the necessary amount of drill, if they could be made, by civil process, to make good to 1013 the regiments the loss of capitation grant involved by their not being efficient. Everyone knew that many young men undertook responsibilities in joining the Volunteers of which they knew nothing. He thought the War Department might be content to allow the law to remain as it was, for it worked very well. The effect of the Bill would undoubtedly be to make Volunteering unpopular, and for that reason he objected to the Third Reading.
§ The House divided:—Ayes, 151; Noes, 44. —(Division List, No. 212.)
§ Bill Read the Third time, and passed.