§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for war if he can inform the House what steps have been taken and are being taken by the War Office to assist discharged reservists and time-expired men from the South African Campaign, including Imperial Yeomen, Militiamen, and Volunteers, to obtain civil employment.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford):Registers for civil employment are kept at the headquarters of regimental districts under the colonels commanding and at recruiting areas by recruiting staff officers. These officers are instructed to do all in their power to secure employment for the men whose names are on the registers. No men with characters less than "good" are so registered, and no men are recommended to employers unless there reasonable hope that they will satisfy their employers. A leaflet has been given to every soldier who has returned 139 from the war telling him where to register, and giving him advice on the subject of obtaining civil employment. Posters and leaflets have been sent to all large employers of labour, urging them to remember the strong claims of reservists and time-expired men who have come home from the war. I may perhaps mention that in view of statements which I have every reason to believe are exceedingly exaggerated as to the number of reservists and time-expired soldiers who have not received their pay, or who have not obtained their discharges, I have arranged to open a bureau at 47, Victoria Street, for a short period, and any soldier calling there after Monday morning, 10th instant, will receive immediate consideration of his case.