§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War if non-commissioned officers belonging to the Monmouthshire Territorial Force have, under the influence of the National Service League, been dissuading young men in the county of Monmouth from joining the above force and, if so, whether he is in a position to give the names of such non-commissioned officers?
§ Colonel SEELYI have been unable to obtain any precise information on this subject.
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MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an officer in the Territorial Force may have done several months' courses and classes in the year and yet be classed as inefficient and so draw no pay at the annual training if he has not performed the ten unpaid drills prescribed, while another officer who has done only the ten unpaid drills and nothing else is classed as efficient and draws pay at training; and whether the regulations on the subject will be amended?
§ Colonel SEELYThe General Officer Commanding-in-Chief has dispensing power to authorise pay in very exceptional cases. It is not considered desirable to amend these regulations, as an important part of an officer's duty is to give instruction to his men prior to camp, and it would not be advisable to encourage efficers to attend voluntary courses at the expense of the necessary compulsory drills.
§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether the Regular Army is now 8,000, and the Territorials are now from 60,000 to 70,000 under strength; and, if so, will he explain how the present can be the best recruiting year since the Territorial Force was started?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Regular Army is approximately 8,000 and the Territorial Force 62,000 under establishment. The present year is the best recruiting year for the Territorial Force since the initial year of 1908–9, considerably more recruits having been taken than in the previous three years for the same period.