§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the joint committee of the Westmoreland and Cumberland Territorial Army Associations, on 31st January last, to call the attention of young men to their existing liabilities under the Militia Ballot Act, and advising that lists of men between 18 and 22 years of age liable under the Militia Ballot Act should be annually prepared by the chief constable and furnished to the Associations; and to the speech of Colonel M'Connell in proposing that resolution; whether a copy of this resolution has been received by the Army Council; and, if so, whether it has received their consideration and approval or disapproval?
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§ Mr. HALDANEMy attention has been drawn to the resolution and the speech mentioned in the question. The Association has been informed that the Army Council are unable to approve of the suggestion. If my hon. Friend will kindly refer to the Militia Ballots Suspension Act, 1865, which is annually enforced by the Expiry Laws Continuance Act, he will find that the preparation of such lists can only be authorised by Order in Council, and then only in anticipation of putting the whole machinery of the Ballot Acts in force as soon as the period of annual suspension has expired.