§ MR. R. G. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the yearly diminution of men serving in the Militia, and that that force is now 20,000 men below its authorised establishment, he will cause an inquiry to be made on the subject, with power to consider whether drilling the Militia recruits in small batches at depots is as desirable as the old system of drilling them under their own officers at their own headquarters, and to inquire if the pay of the Militia whilst out for training should be assimilated to that of the Line, as was once the case, and into the desirability of reverting to the old system of paying the, first year's bounty, namely, 10s. on the recruit being attested and £1 at the end of the first training, and not, as at present, the whole 30s. bounty at the end of the first training.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe failure to keep the Militia up to its establishment is recognised by the Secretary of State to be a matter requiring careful consideration. The suggestions put forward by the hon. Member are among those to, which attention is being directed.