§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the recruiting Returns for the quarters ending 31st March and 30th June show smaller numbers than those of previous years especially with respect to the Infantry of the Line and the Militia, although the additional inducements have been recently offered to recruits; and whether he will say what steps, if any, he proposes to take to deal with this difficulty.
§ MR. BRODRICKNo, Sir. Omitting 1900, which was quite an exceptional year, the Returns show an improvement on previous years as regards the Infantry of the Line; and as regards the militia an increase over the figures for 1900 as well. But I must warn the hon. Member against comparing the figures of recruiting after the close of the war with the number raised during moments of great popular enthusiasm.