§ VISCOUNT BURYasked the Under Secretary for War, Whether he will explain to the House the new Regulations under which junior officers of Militia are to be allowed to enter the Army?
§ EARL CADOGANreplied that those Regulations were not at present in a complete form, and therefore he was sorry he was unable to give very complete details in answer to the Question of the noble Lord; but if the noble Lord would be content with a general explanation he would be happy to give it. The present system of giving subalterns of the Militia commissions in the Army on the nomination of Commanding Officers of Militia regiments would be discontinued. Subalterns of Militia who wished to obtain commissions in the Army must undergo a competitive examination in military subjects. The times and place of examination would be duly stated. The number of commissions set aside for Militia subalterns would be annually made known. The applications of subalterns to compete must be submitted to their Commanding Officers and forwarded through the usual channels. They must produce certificates that they were duly qualified as to age, and that they had attended two 373 trainings, and they must have passed a Civil Service or test examination or produce a University certificate. He might add that it was not proposed that this scheme should take effect till the 1st of January, 1879. There were a certain number of officers who looked to obtaining these commissions, and that would give them an opportunity of preparing and of attending the required two regimental trainings. The scheme now in practice was framed by the noble Viscount opposite (Viscount Cardwell), with the desirable object of enabling young men who wished to enter the Army, but who did not possess the requisite literary knowledge, to obtain commissions. It had, however, been found to give rise to some difficulties, and was in some respects open to serious objections. It was in order to obviate these the change was proposed. No doubt the present system gave the Commanding Officers of Militia regiments a certain amount of patronage; but he was informed that they were not unwilling to be relieved of it. At present the largest Militia regiments got the largest number of subalterns into the Army; but it was expected that under the new system the best regulated regiments—those who produced the most efficient subalterns—would be the most successful.
§ VISCOUNT CARDWELLsaid, he was much obliged to his noble Friend the Under Secretary for War for his very clear explanation of the measure. His object in framing the system now in existence was to prevent the selection of officers for the Army from being narrowed within too limited a class, and he thought that effective service in the Militia would be a good qualification for young military officers. The system had had another good effect. Before it was adopted the junior ranks of the Militia were but scantily filled in most cases; but when it was found that service in the Militia gave a title to the Army the deficiency was immediately removed. He did not insist that the particular mode in which he had designed to accomplish the object in view was the best. On the contrary, he thought what the noble Earl suggested would effect a considerable improvement, and no one would welcome it more cordially than he would.
§ VISCOUNT BURYasked whether the competition would be between the officers 374 of the same regiment, or whether there was to be one general examination at some central place?
§ EARL CADOGANreplied that the examination would not be confined to each regiment separately, but would be open to all Militia officers; and the examination would be held at a central place.