* LORD SANDHURSTMy Lords, I rise to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can give a clear definition of the term "emergency," under which registered horses may be requisitioned for Government service? Considerable doubt exists as to the circumstances under which these horses could be called out—whether only in time of anticipated invasion, or whenever the Reserves were called out, or on the occasion of any small war in a remote part of the Empire; and it would, I think, give general satisfaction if the Government could say whether the scheme had been generally successful.
* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord Harris)My Lords, I can hardly undertake to give a general definition of the term "emergency," but I hope to be able to give such a definition as will satisfy those gentlemen who, I have no doubt, have interested the noble Lord in this subject. Before doing so, I will give the noble Lord the information he asks for. Your Lordships may remember that in the autumn of 1887 I intimated that the Government proposed to invite owners of horses to register them for military purposes, and I had the temerity to prophesy that as volunteering had proved so successful 969 forsoldiers I saw no reason why it should not be as successful for horses. The event has justified my prophesy. Last year we obtained Treasury sanction for 7,000 horses, and this year we have obtained Treasury sanction for a further 7,000. That first number of 7,000 had been examined and passed by the Deputy Inspectors of Remounts, and had been registered, and of the second 7,000 we have now examined and passed 2,500, so that we have now 9,500 horses completely registered. Of the first 7,000, 6,000 were draught and 1,000 riding horses. It is, I suppose, with special reference to the riding horses that the noble Lord puts the question to me. The large majority of the owners of these horses came forward again this year to register. It is obvious that the amount of the fee can be no object to them, and that they come forward purely from patriotic motives to assist Her Majesty's Government. In addition to the horses already mentioned, 500 hunters, belonging to masters of hounds, have been registered. Although out of those previously mentioned nearly the necessary proportion of riding horses could be obtained, the Government are exceedingly anxious to obtain the further co-operation of masters of hounds, so that they may, if possible, be able to rely on horses of the class of hunt-servants' horses. Out of 300 masters of hounds who have been applied to 100 answers have been obtained, of which over 60 are favourable. Obviously as I have said the fees are too snail to be of any importance to those gentlemen, who have registered from purely patriotic motives. Many who have not registered have very reasonably pointed out that the term "emergency" is very indefinite, and have asked the Government to state how they propose to construe it. With a view to meet that most reasonable request I have consulted with the Quartermaster General, and we propose to construe the term in the following way:—"Emergency" will be interpreted as an occasion when.—.
The Reserves are called out for permanent service by proclamation of Her Majesty in Council, the occasion being first communicated to Parliament, if Parliament be then sitting, or declared in Council and notified by proclamation if Parliament be not then sitting.This the Government hope will meet 970 the objections which have been raised. That there may be no misunderstanding in the future owing to changes of Government or high officials, I propose to put a footnote on the form of agreement for registering horses, setting out the definition of the term "emergency" which I have just read. Your Lordships will, however, clearly understand that it is confined and applicable only to the registration of horses and obtains its binding effect from the voluntary acceptance of the definition by the parties to the agreement. It does not profess to nor could it define the term "emergency" as employed in the Militia, Reserve, Yeomanry, and Volunteer Acts. The definition of the term there must remain with Her Majesty in Council, but as far as the registration of horses is concerned we are prepared to put that on the forms of agreement. The Government hope that will meet the views of owners of horses and masters of hounds, and that we shall obtain an increased number of horses from them.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYProbably the noble Lord remembers that the last time the Reserves were called out was in 1833, when there was a fear of war, and it was for the purpose of service in India. I do not know whether the noble Lord's definition applies to India. At that time 25,000 of the Reserves were called out.
* LORD HARRISWe are at present in the position that we were successful in obtaining horses last year, without any condition of emergency. We have also, as I have explained, obtained this year a second 7,000 horses, and we hope that this definition will satisfy the owners.