§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he is aware that reports are current in the public press of an intention on the part of the War Office to make extra demands of a serious kind upon the time of the Volunteers, which might have an injurious effect upon the strength of the force, both as to resignations and recruiting: and if, having regard to the increased attendance of late voluntarily given to drills and the annual course of musketry, he will say whether these rumours have any such foundation in fact to be a deterrent to those thinking of joining?
§ Mr. WYNDHAMAn Order in Council will shortly be laid before Parliament to amend the conditions of efficiency as regards Musketry of Rifle Volunteers. The travelling allowances will be revised with the object of compensating the corps for any additional expense entailed by the new regulations. The new conditions will come into force on 1st November. The conditions have been made very elastic, so as to impose the least possible tax upon the time of Volunteers.
§ COLONEL SIR HOWARD VINCENTThere will be no change in the present Volunteer year?
§ MR. WYNDHAMIt will commence on the 1st November.