§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGHTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of increasing the age limit for recruiting for Special Reserve to thirty-five years, as the present limit of thirty years renders it practically impossible for ex-soldiers to join, and recruits for Militia were formerly accepted up to forty-five years.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) This question has been considered, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in the age limit in the manner suggested.
§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGHTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been directed to the fact that a fee of 2s. 4d. is paid in respect of a line recruit while only 1s. 6d. is paid for a recruit for the Reserve; and is it proposed to continue this arrangement, which naturally causes colour-sergeants to use all their efforts against the Reserve recruiting.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The fees are as stated, and the 1s. 6d. levy money paid for a Special Reserve recruit is exactly the same amount as was paid in the past for a Militia recruit. It was not found that this rate of levy money prevented recruiters from raising recruits for the Militia, and it is not expected that it will militate against recruiting for the Special Reserve.