§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any guns will be provided for the Northumberland Artillery Militia during their training next July; and whether there is any available range for musketry practice.
§ MR. HALDANEThe General Officer Commanding in Chief Northern Command has been requested to use his discretion in placing guns at the disposal of the Artillery Militia from the Training Brigade at Newcastle-on-Tyne, while not interfering with the practice of the Training Brigade. There is a musketry range half-a-mile distant, at Berwick-on-Tweed, for range and field practices 800 yards long, with two classification canvas targets.
§ MR. ASHLEYWhat public use is served by spending public money on the training of militia battalions which are going to be disbanded?
§ MR. HALDANEWe undertook that the Militia should not be disbanded until after this year's training. They are to be trained in the most useful way for the 1543 Special Reserve. We are discarding the things that will be useless.
§ MR. ASHLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman sure to get all these men to enlist in the Special Reserve?
§ MR. HALDANECertainly.
§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)Is it decided that they shall have guns?
§ MR. HALDANEMost certainly they are going to get guns; they are to be converted into Field Artillery Militia, although they are being trained this summer on the old footing.