§ Order read, for resuming adjourned Debate on Question [20th March], "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Resolution, 'That a sum, not exceeding £10,220,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Charge for the Pay, &c, of His Majesty's Army (including Army Reserve) at Home and Abroad (exclusive of India), which will come in 343 course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1907.'"
§ Question again proposed.
§ Debate resumed.
§ MR. WILLIAM RUTHERFORD (Liverpool, West Derby)continuing his speech, which had been interrupted by the suspension of the sitting at half-past seven, said he intervened simply to make a few remarks upon the pay and allowances of our Regular soldiers. His object was to appeal from the civilian point of view to the Secretary of State for War to do something to improve the lot of the common soldier, and at the point when he finished his service not to leave him to join what appeared to be the only occupation open to him, the ranks of the casual labourer. The great reason why no respectable parent could with equanimity see a son join the Army was that he knew that the lad's life was practically spoiled, and that after a few years in the Army he would be thrown adrift without a trade. In Manchester, Birmingham, and other large cities, they were trying to find employment for men who were out of work, and the retired soldier was one of their greatest and most pitiable difficulties. It was a pitiable system under which one had to tell a man of good physique and good character that there was nothing for him to do but casual labour. We wanted good men for the Army, and to get them they must be treated as human beings. At present they did not get that treatment, and there was no railway company or private firm who would treat their employés as we did our soldiers. The pay and emoluments of the soldier compared 344 very badly with those of the sailor who left the Navy with a training and was a handy man who generally found something to do. There was no such opportunity for the soldier. He hoped the whole question of the re-organisation of the Army would be taken into consideration.