The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-05-25 00:00:00

•ENNINII

imperial parliamnu.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
TUCIISDAT.

LT ILECRUITINO.
Lord Eiclio !nor.' “That, while expressing no
Opinion as to the necessity or expediency of enlisting and
elolepervmeiceutoifntthseefficiwenni mswithn-
lads
years of age should be reckoned an effective soldier and
ahtruleu."i'.thigtoiisutf'hilneuatiurseuurleitis ultimate
foriliiei,.‘ihtu that no youth under twenty
borne, as such, on the Army Estimates ; and this House is
further of opinion that the number of youths under
twenty years of age enlisted. and serving in each arm of
the service, should he annually and separately stated in
the Estimates." The noble lord said the l'rime Minister
remarked the other day that the matter was not urgent,
but he maintained that anything which tended to show
that the state of the army was unsatisfactory must be
urgent. The recent scare about warlike intentions, which
' set the Foreign Office and all Europe in a tremor, gave it
insreases importance ; and he felt certain that before next
year the Government would be obliged to do something
to Place the army in a more efficient condition —Oscar,
hear). The infantry numbered IRMO less in *75 than they
did in 1853, while they coat four and a half millions more
deducting boys under twenty and one-fifth for casualties
only MAO men remained available for home defence and
for reinforcements in India and the Colonies, while the
reserve would only about half fill the cacancies. The
Inspector-General of Recruiting admitted that be thought
with alarm of the time when the full strain of the short
service system would be felt All these facts did not sulruit
of entradiction, and of the thorn his motion was the
natural income.
Mr. J. Homes thought it time, in view of the progress
in the art of war so lately made upon the Goutitient, that
the House should awaken to a sense of its responsibilities.
The old form of long service was effete and useless. In
Pruseia they kept steadily in view two great principles,
which were equally applicable to a country having either
voluntary or compulsory service, which in this country
were utterly disregarded. In effect Prussia had no stand-
ing army ; all her soldiers were at home. %Veil, if Prueia
could make a soldier in twenty mouths, England, with the
brightest working population in the world, ought to make
a soldier in eighteen months, In England, where the
hours of labour were short, if a self-educated man could be
admitted into the army for twelvemonths, he would prove
a good and efficient soldier. Wages in the agricultural
districts were 16s, per week. The wages of an infantry
soldier were 13s. sd. The first thing to do was to raise the
pay of the soldier up to par price. They might as well go
into the City and attempt to get Consols at 92 when they
, were a little higher as to expect working mdn to moue into
the army for 13s. 5.1. when they could get sixteen
shilling& lie was decidedly of opinion that the short
service and reserve system was one that commended itself
to common sense and would best suit the needs of the
working classes. As one having • stake in this country he
was quite dissatisfied with the state of the &my— (hear,
hear)—and would not hesitate to say the present condition
was most dangerous, most unwise, and mmt undignified—
(cheers). To have an efficient army in this country
was the Lest means of preventing war in Europe—(hear,
hear).
Colonel Lovn-Lixosav believed the plain and simple
remedy for deficiencies in the army was increase of pay.
Employers of labour had raised the wages of their men,
and the Town Councils of large towns had been obliged to
offer higher pay to induce men to join the constabularies
In everything that money could buy the English army
was superior to any other.; but when they passed from
the equipment to the men the comparison was less favour-
able to it. The most successful experiment of modern
time for obtaining recruits for the navy Was that which
had been corned out recently by the Admiralty ; he
referred to the system of engaging boys of from 1111 to 16
years of age for training in order that they might enter
the service at 18. He would like to see a similar experi-
ment tried in the case of the army. What the country
wanted for the army was agricultural labourers, anti they
might, he believed, be obtained in the manner that he
*tweeted the boys enrolled remaining with their parents
until they actually entered the Arsuy. When the brigade
depths were first established it was generally supposed
that one result would be that the agricultural districts
would be penetrated and a large number of recruits ob-
tained there; but warmly any addition had been made to
the proportion of soldiers belonging to thatclass of society.
General SECTS said if they were to have an army of men
and not boys, it must be either purse or person. If the
former, he would give the men entirely free rations, instead
of, as at present, charging them for groceries and vege-
tables; increase their pay as they became seasoned
soldiers—the addition, however, to accumulate till the
term of service expire.); give deferred pensions, in proper
lion to the time of service; ard make the army • stepping-
stone to minor Government appointments. If, on the
other hand, they had conscription, it should be universal,
and those who did nut wish to serve should pay is tax in
proportion to their income.
Mr. N. T. Bess suggested conscription in one form or
another. Ile found that in Great Britain and Ireland
there were nearly 3tattaa young men who Came to be Of
ripe age every year, and if, in lieu of service, they were
required to contribute • week's salary, the money might
be 40 distributed as to procure witheut difficulty ADIS
eligible recruits.
Mr H. HAVELOCK pointed out that the short service
system had already given them an effective reserve of
3st,ffisu men, and that by the end of lite, when it would
have reached its furthest development, KOMI men would
be in the reserve who had pas.ed through the regular
army. In addition to the advantage of the short service
system, there had been a very complete localisation of the
forced going on, and one of the result* of the brigade
depots hod been that they had already raised 15,010 11114,14
He believed that with Kuper managesuent the militia
would give Us the WholU of LUC reserve We requirol. Fur
the colours he had full faith in the volmitary system, which
liasl 1111 four years procured Us 'KAU men.
'Mr. HAMM us 'I with respect to the actual number of
lUCU in the army between the ages of 14 and tt he
found that maul a total 176,971 only 111781auswered to that
description -(hear, hear). Further, he would add that
competent witnesses, medical men amougst other-, had
opprovial of enlistment at Is, 'wing of oi,inion thot the
good traotnieut and instruction the recruit would receive
in two years would make bins an excellent soldier at 20—
(hear). seine oi our greatest battles hal been fought
by soldiers between 18 and Yu, and in the C ea,
when our pea= army of veterans had been disabled
we were obliged to rely on i 111 l nature recrnite.
Respecting increase of pay, did the hon. member for
Hackney mean that risen standing in the Rime rank and
doing the same duty were to receive different rates of pay?
It had been said that this country would never he in a
positicn to send an army to assist any of its allies. He
could not admit that; and when he was told that the
Governioent was entirely omitting all notion of reorgani-
zation lie could only say that he was receiving lnforismati.in
of which he was until then entirely ignorant, Ile thought
it a very injurious aupposition to hold out in Europe that
there could lie any condition of the affair, of this country
in which she would not be aisle to render a promised
astistancoo to her allies—(hear hear). Ile conl,l not atiree
with the hon. meinlier in his statement that the long
service system was effete and useless, and the lion, member
would find that on that opinion he would have some very
formidable antagoniats to encounter. The remedy proposed
for the existing evils was that of short service, and it Was
thought that under certain exceptional circumstances men
might qualify themselves to form part of the national
reserve in twelve months. But it was forgotten that they
had first to get the meno and that them lay the chief
difficulty—(hmar, hear). 11, to the present time it must
be admitted that they had not failed to get the number of
men required. But it was now proposed to increase the
rate of pay to 16i. a week, in order to induce men more ,
readily to join the army. Ile bail not gone into any '
calculations as to the actual sum which this increase
would cost the nation, but he feared that if the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had been preseut, he would have been ,
somewhat dismayed at the proposal. The opinion of many
officers of admitted experience wee, recruits now obtained ,
were net only equal hut superior to those of past years,
phyticieliy and intellectually, as well as with respect to
education. It ought to be remembered that in addition to
the ley be received the soldier enjoyed advantages which
were nut at all accessible to the COMIIIOII workman—(hear,
bear)—and he thought it would be a rather dangerous
principal to adopt if it were decided to offer a further
1 bounty to men who were already coming in willingly.
Hu believed most firmly that the best mode of supply for
. the ranks of the army, was a subject which requires) •
very great deal of thought The ballot system of indite
which had been mentioned by the hon. mender for
Derby remained as is sheathed sword which it *night he
necessary to draw, and lie WAY Leered that no Minister ,
would fear to draw it if absolute occasion should arise— I
(ch.esn).

After some further discussion the House went into
Committee of Supply, and the rote for 10,5,300 tor milita
pay and allowances, was agreed to.

_
FRIDAT.
PROPWED MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE.
Mr. SAMPSON LLOTO moved an address to the Crown,
praying that those functions which especially 'elate to
commerce and agriculture.should be administennl under
the direction of a principal Secretary of State. who should
be a member of the Cabinet. The necessity for such an
appeal, he thought, could not be better indicated than by
the statement that the annual imports and export, of the
country exceeded kIiUM,OUII,OI/0 sterling, and the tenants'
capital invested in agriculture had been estimated at from
1:100,1.1MU,UOU to 1:50111,Ull1t000.
Mr. STORER, in the interests of agriculture, and cape.
cially with reference to measures for preventing the spread
of pleuro-pneunionia and foot and mouth disease, ear-
nestly bupported the motion.

The CHANCELLoR of the EXCHEQUER thought loth sides
of the House would admit the importance of the two
great interests represented in the motion ; but at the
same time could see no reason fur banding theta over too
special department. There was a departaueut of agricul-
ture up to INK and some years ago there was a com-
mercial section of the Board of Trade, the duties of which
had since bmin transferred to the Forehpi Othce. Free
trade was introduced, the system of reciprocity treaties
came to nothing, and the arrangement of complicated
tariffs ceased, and as differential duties were abolished
and the navigation laws repealed, the business left the
Board of Trade to itself. Ile natural inference from
these facts wan that the special work gradually faded
away, and the appointment of a department .4 agricul-
ture and commerce would only lead to confusion, by
sua'.erially interfering with the settled duties of other
departments.
Mr. W. K FORSTER considered It important in
miniirterial arrangements that the President of the Board
of Trade, who was really dui Minishir of Commerce,
should lie a member of the Cabinet. Ile also thought it
worth attention whether I ;overnment business connected
with agriculture should not he jolt into the Caine hands as
GOVe -art businrs,o connected with cot 1111 l erre.
Mr. M. STUART urged the importance of the reprosenta-
Lion of agriculture in the Cabinet__

—Mr. Disliking reminded the House that they were
dealing with the official huirarchy of an ancient country,
and that many important interests had come in proem. of
time under the charge of departments the titles of which
did not indicate all the duties they hail to perform. corn.
wombs' interests, in which a Minister could interfere,
settled thetimelvei in almost all CASCS on the Foreign
Office ; and the interests of airricelture were attended to
by a Minister aLo WU not only a member of the Cabinet,
but a distinguishol practical fanner. The subject of the
redistribution of official duties must always engage the
attention of the Government, and there had been many
departmental change.. The discussion which hail now taken
place would encourage the efforts of Ministers to improve
the Administration ; and he trusted that, b 3 availing
themselves of some of the suggestions that hail been
thrown out, and MllllO which experience pointed to, they
might render the conduct of the business of the country
more elfectile.

After wine olaietvi.tion from lr. WHITWELL, the
address was utgoved.
The House then went into Committee of Supply.
Several votes worn agreed to, and the House adjourned.

THROAT IRRITATION.—The throat and windpipe are
especially liable to inflammation. causing soreness and
dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and
affecting the voice. Fur these symptoms use glycerine in
the form of jujubes. Ulymrine in these agreeable con-
fections, being in proximity to the glands at the moment
they are excited by the act of sucking. becomes actively
healing. ii and Is. rickets (by POSY Nor 15 stamps).
laidilel"J AMYX EPPS k CO., HOUROopoLhie Chemists, 3S,
Threadneedk Street, and 170, London.—Sold in
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TAYLOR'S PATENT SEWING MACHINRS have new Patent
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title noiee," and can be.had on "caw terme" of purchase
at • "'moderate Prise. —lt is necessary to Caution the
public against cheap, ill-roade and ounsegu.ntly worthieu
machines, which are often recommended by Liesdeni —on
account of the e 'surname profits they obtain for them. in
preference to good machines at a fair price. Intending
if unable to obtain Taylors Patent Sewing
%heti:en/es rum local Dealers,. are resPectfully ratitmuted
send for a prospectus to ill, ChenPside. London, EC.,;
Great DriffleK Yorkshire ; or the branco eatabhahmenta ;
Bther-atreet. Hull. lad 112. larkilitt. Wakefield.

On Thursday at Bristol supply of English wheat
unusually short, and sold freely at fully last week's
prices; in foreign nothing doing, and quotations
nominal. Grinding and distilling barley in limited
request, at a decline of 6d per quarter. Indian corn
offered at fully 6d per quarter reduction, without
attracting buyers. Oats neglected, and 6d per quarter
lower. Arrivals :—Oats, Irish, 2,024 qrs ; barley,
foreign, 1,097 qrs.
WIIZAT. s. d a d.
Chi Han Oregon, white .. 45 to 48 per 4961b8
Amesican, fine sluing 44 to 4.5
Ditto, secondary 43 to 44
Polish Odessa, soft . 43 to 44
(Mirka, Odessa, and [testa, soft 42 to 44
Berdianski and Marianople, soft 0 to 0
English, red and white, new . 40 to 43
11.411LZT.
English, good to fine malting .. 0 to 0 per imp.qr
French, good to fine malting .. 0 to 0 per 4201 he
Irish, good to fine malting 0 to 0 per 4921bs
Danube and Odessa, ending .. 28 to 18 per 4001bs
Irish and French, grinding .. 23 to 30
OATS.
Swedish, ac., beery white .. 90 to 91 per 3201bs
Limerick and other, fine white.. 29 to 30
Cork, Waterton!, black 26 to 28 per
I'. E. Island black „ to 27
Irish, tawny „ to 27
Buss.
English .. .„
French, Mseac, Sc. ..

.. 44 (. to 48 0 per Imp. qr
.. 41 0 to 42 0 per 4001b4

United State; ;;;I—Canadian .. 20 0 to 21 0 per barrel
English, good secneuls • 23 0 to 30 0 per 230114
CORX.
Odom, Danube, &c 15 6 to 38 0 per 4801b1
1111‘otl Arnesican 31 6 to 35 0 ..
Dud 25 0 to 26 Oper 400166
At Devizes wheat was in short supply, and there was
brisk demand, at a rise of 6d to Is per sack. Other
grain at late rates.—At Birmingham English wheat
rather more active, but at no improvement in value.
On Friday. at Mark Lane, the market was exceed-
ingly dull, and millers were unwilling to buy unless at
a reduction from Monday week. The supply of this
cereal on offer was not, however, large. Barley was
hardly saleable, though offered in some cases on lower
terms. Malt was in good supply, and flat in tone.
Sound oats were scarce, and not therefore pressed for
sale, but there wai an extensive supply of inferior
descriptions, which were especially heavy and
irregular in value. Maize was dealt in slowly at a
little less money. Beans and peas were difficult to
move, but not quotable lower. Flour Ivo very quiet
with downward tendency. At Andover, when was
in small supply, and previous rates were barely main-
tained. At Coventry, dull trade. At Dublin, in
foreign wheat, very little doing barley 6d cheaper.
Flour very dull. At Lincoln wheat, slow trade. at
rates in the buyer's favour. Al Liverpool, moderately
fair business in wheat, reds making fully id per cental
advance, while whites fully maintained the quotations
of Tuesday. Flour quiet. At Stamford, very little
business was done. Beans at last week's prices and
very firm. At Wakefield, demand for wheat MIMI,
and so indisposed to buy are millers that a reduction in
price does not lead to business.