§ 25. Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, owing to the pay offered to tradesmen enlisted in the Army being so much higher than the pay of private soldiers, recent recruiting in London and some other places has been for the most part of tradesmen and not of fighting men?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe answer is in the negative.
§ 26. Sir CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what pay and allowances are now offered to private soldiers and what to men enlisting under trades?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)The Army requires a small proportion of highly skilled men of various trades, to whom various special rates of pay are given. It will probably suffice for the hon. Member's purpose if I mention the 6s. a day given to skilled motor drivers and 5s. given to smiths and fitters. The pay of the Infantry recruit is 1s. a day. There is no difference in the allowances.
28. Mr. LLEWELYN WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the statement made at a recruiting committee meeting held last week at 1778 Dublin, and presided over by the Lord Lieutenant, that Ireland had contributed 81,000 recruits to the Army since the outbreak of war and that 1,100 recruits a week were now asked for from Ireland, was made with the approval of the Secretary of State for War; and, if so, whether he is now prepared to supply to the House similar figures as to the number of recruits already obtained and required to be obtained from England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe figure given by the Lord Lieutenant is apparently derived from information obtained locally. It is not known on what principle the demand for 1,100 recruits a week is based. It is hoped that Irishmen will take advantage of the opportunities now available under the scheme initiated by the Lord Lieutenant with the assistance of the hon. Member for Waterford and influential gentlemen in all parts of Ireland. It is not considered advisable to give the figures asked for in the last part of the question.
Mr. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of giving the figures with regard to Wales?
§ Mr. TENNANTI will consider that, but I do not hold out any great hopes of being able to satisfy my hon. Friend.
§ 51. Sir LEO CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been directed to the fact that in the current issue of a newspaper called "The Nation," published in London, the statement of the Labour Recruiting Committee that over 30,000 recruits per week are required is denounced as a figure almost wildly in excess of the need, and that at most the nation requires only 5,000 to 8,000 recruits per week in the coming year; if he is aware that this statement has been reproduced by "The Daily News and Leader," and given a wide circulation; and whether the Government will instruct the Censor to prevent the publication of inaccurate statements injurious to the national cause and dangerous in the existing military situation?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have not seen the statement in the newspapers referred to, but my hon. Friend will have seen the authorised appeal now widely placarded all over London, which mentions 30,000 recruits a week as the requirement. I think it is well-known that 5,000 to 8,000 recruits a week does not represent the requirements of the situation, and I cannot 1779 imagine that the statements referred to can have misled any properly informed person.
§ Mr. SNOWDENArising out of the latter part of the question, may I ask the Government to take into consideration the desirability of appointing the hon. Member for East Northants as Press Censor, if he can be spared from his important duties at the Admiralty?