§ MR. HAMMOND (Carlow)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, is he aware that the practice prevails in Ireland of recruiting officers enlisting for the Militia forces boys of tender years without the consent and against the wishes of their parents; and if he will be disposed to appoint some minimum 165 limit of age, of about eighteen years, below which no youths should be enrolled in the ranks of Militia.
LORD STANLEYNo such practice prevails. The minimum age for enlistment into the Militia is already fixed by regulation at seventeen years.