THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordI rise to ask leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Law relating to the Reserve Forces and Militia. I bring forward this Measure to make good a pledge which I gave in the Debates on the Army Estimates with regard to the conditions of employment of the Reserve and the Militia. The Measure I am introducing is of a very simple character, and deals with the present position of employment in the Reserve. At the present time the Reserve could only be called out in case of a national emergency, and the Government consider it very desirable, taking into consideration such expeditions as had taken place from time to time, that a certain portion of the Reserve should, under special circumstances, be enabled to be called out. The Government now propose to give an extra sixpence a day to a body not exceeding 5,000 men, who will be liable to be called out during the first year of their Reserve service to serve in case of any warlike operations. With regard to the Militia, at the present moment they were able to volunteer for service in the Channel Islands, Malta, and Gibraltar. Commanding officers, and other Military authorities, have recom 774 mended to the Government the desirability of extending these limits, and the Bill I have introduced provides for such an extension as will enable the men in the Militia to voluntarily give their services in other places besides those which I have previously mentioned. Their service will not extend to more than one year. The provisions of this Measure were explained fully to the House at the time of the introduction of the Army Estimates, and I am glad to say that they were very favourably received both by this House and by criticisms in the newspapers.
§ MR. H. O. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)The right hon. Gentleman has very truly said that his former proposals which he had referred to were favourably received, but I think the House ought to understand what one of the right hon. Gentleman's proposals now is. It is practically to withdraw another 5,000 men from the Reserve, making 10,000 in all. It is really to take 10,000 men from one branch of the Army and put them in another, and that is called strengthening the Army. The effect is to stamp 5,000 men with the seal of incompetence for work, because the fact that a man is liable during the whole year to be withdrawn by telegraphic notice from his work must lessen enormously his chances of getting any work. By this Bill the right hon. Gentleman introduces in the Army another 5,000 men, making 10,000 in all, all of them serving long service, and this is to be done without any discussion in the House. [Mr. BRODRICK: No, no!] Then I understand this question will be discussed again, but I wish to protest against the statement that there has been any acquiescence on the part of the House to this particular part of the Bill. Although we shall be very glad to see the Mititia employed in the way he suggests, I think there will be many hon. Members who share my opinion that the further strengthening of the Army by transferring men like this from the Reserve is not a principle which ought to be carried out, and is not a practice calculated to really strengthen the Army.
§ Bill read a first time.