SECOND READING. (Hansard, 27 July 1860)

EARL DE GREY AND RIPON,
in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, said, the first power which it would confer was te enable Her Majesty to unite together, for the purpose of forming a corps of Artillery Militia, portions of the Militia of adjoining counties, and of divisions of counties. Provision was next made for the establishment, by the joint action of the counties, of storehouses for the united Artillery corps. The machinery for that purpose had been adopted from an Act passed some years ago for the establishment of joint lunatic asylums by different counties. Owing to the different arrangements with respect to county rates in Ireland, it had been necessary to alter the wording of the clauses relating to that country, but the object contemplated was precisely the same. The inconvenience which had been experienced from the non- 264 ability of borough justices to administer oaths to Militia Volunteers was remedied; and it was enacted that immediately on their enrolment it should be lawful to drill recruits for a limited period at head-quarters; by which means the adjutant would not only be able to acquaint himself more thoroughly with their appearance, but the men would be much better prepared when they subsequently came up for their twenty-eight days' training. Some doubt having arisen as to whether an order from the Secretary of State was required in every case to determine whether deserters should be tried summarily before a justice of the peace or by a court-martial, it was provided by this Bill that they might in future be tried summarily by a justice in every case, unless where the Secretary of State shall give express directions by regimental court-martial. By the last two clauses of the Bill the principle existing with regard to England was extended to the other portions of the United Kingdom. The quota of Militia for England and Wales was 80,000; but in case of invasion that force might be increased 50 per cent. It was now provided that under similar circumstances the Irish and Scotch contingents might be enlarged in like proportion; but the provision of course would be inoperative except in case of actual invasion. It only remained for him to state that most of these alterations in the law relating to the Militia force had been adopted in compliance with recommendations of the Royal Commission of last year, and all of them had been suggested by the inquiries conducted by that Commission. It was the wish of his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, to carry out, as far as possible, the views of the Commissioners, and he believed that the changes which the Government had adopted, in accordance with their recommendation, had been attended with beneficial effect. In the condition of the Militia this year a tendency to improvement was exhibited, which led the Government to hope that if it were placed on a proper footing, and left as it ought to be, as a reserve and local force, it would recover from the state of depression which had resulted from the course which had been pursued under circumstances of great difficulty and pressure, and become a really valuable adjunct to the defences of the country.

§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURY
said, that with respect to the last observation of 265 his noble Friend, he entertained the same hope as to the future of the Militia as did his noble Friend, but he was not sanguine enough to entertain the same confidence. There could be no doubt that the recruiting of the Militia would be much more extensive if the convenience of the different regiments were consulted. No difficulty whatever would have been felt in keeping up the establishment of the Hampshire Artillery Militia, which he had the honour to command, if it had been stationed at Portsmouth, as Sir James Scarlett recommended. But instead of that the regiment was quartered in Wales, and the Lancashire Artillery were taken all the way down to Portsmouth. In time of peace he could not see any necessity for such capricious quartering, and he was quite satisfied that except under circumstances of urgent necessity the contrary was the more judicious course. When regiments were a long way distant from their own part of the country recruiting officers found it impossible to induce the men to join head-quarters.

§ VISCOUNT HARDINGE
expressed his satisfaction at the willingness with which the Government were carrying out the recommendations of the Commission. Having been one of its members, he knew the great attention which they had bestowed on all subjects affecting the efficiency of that force, and, in particular, the care with which they had considered the question of whole or partial embodiment. Most of the desertions of which so much had been said were owing, he believed, to the fact that recruiting officers, under the pressure of circumstances, had raised men at a distance from the county to which the corps belonged. He knew of one regiment which had been recruited almost entirely in London; it was therefore not to be wondered at that the men were not forthcoming. The provisions of the Act of last year had tended materially to improve the condition of the Militia, and to render it no longer a merely paper force. He wished to know whether the Government intended to make any increase in the allowances of non-commissioned officers on the permanent staff, which at present were so low that it was almost impossible to induce non-commissioned officers to remain on it.

THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH
called attention to the fact that within a short period no less than five Bills had been submitted to Parliament for the improve- 266 ment of the Militia, and thought it would be well if the various Bills could be consolidated.

EARL DE GREY AND RIPON
said, the Government had considered the propriety of consolidating these Acts, but it was necessary that amendment should precede consolidation. He was glad to say that it was the intention of the Government to increase the allowances to non-commissioned officers of the permanent staff.