§ Mr. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the military representative for Wells, Somerset, has ordered a railwayman named Henry J. Lane, who holds an exemption certificate and war service badge issued by a railway company, to join the Volunteer Training Corps, notwithstanding that the conditions of his employment do not permit him to devote any time for this purpose; whether such action on the part of the military representative has the sanction and consent of the War Office; and whether, under such circumstances, a man is obliged to take any notice of the order of the military representative?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have no knowledge of the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member. A military representative has no power to order a man to join the Volunteer Training Corps, but it is open to a tribunal to attach such a condition to a certificate of exemption, and if the condition be not complied with the exemption ceases to be effective.
§ Mr. HANSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many of the Volunteer battalions already wear badges and shoulder titles purchased at considerable cost to themselves, such badges having for the most part been duly sanctioned in the first instance by the Central Association Volunteer Training Corps; whether he is aware that the new 1,936 Volunteer Force Order, No. 20, issued from the War Office on the 10th October, will involve an additional minimum expenditure of 2s. to 3s. per man, the aggregate cost of which to the Volunteer Forces of the country to be borne by themselves would amount to a large sum of money; and whether he will consider the possibility of modifying Order No. 20 to such an extent as to exempt from its provisions those battalions which have already under authority acquired and are wearing badges and titles of identification?
§ Mr. FORSTERInstructions have been issued on this matter, and the War Office is unable to sanction the wearing of any badges, etc., different from the patterns authorised by these instructions, which may have been purchased after the date of the instructions. The Army Council will, however, be prepared to consider cases where badges have actually been bought, different from the authorised pattern, prior to the issue of the instructions.