The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-27 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEER CAPITATION GRANT.

On the or3er for going into Committee cf Supply on
the Army Estimates, Mr. Howard Vincent mor ed a
resolution in favour of an immediate increase in :the
present volunteer capitation grant. This, he contended,
was absolutely and urgently necessary for the thorough
efficiency, maintenance, and development of the volun-
teer force. Under the present arrangement the greatest
difficulty existed in obtaining suitable men to accept
commissions, and the force, in fact, was kept back by
a false and petty economy. He suggested that the
capitation grant should be increased by 10s., or in all
100,000.
Sir E. Hamley advocated a more generous treatment
of the volunteer force, which in his view was a great
defensive army that Continental countries lcoked upon
with envy.
Mr. Gladstone, with much warmth, protested against
the House of Commons forcing upon a Minister, inm
dependently of his own judgment, an increase of the
public burdens. The Secretary for War had received
a deputation, to whom he bad promised an examination
of the grihiect in terms which made it not unlikely that

be might himself make some proposal of tne enaraerer
of that now submitted to the House. But he asked
that the matter should be left free for examination by
tLe executive Government, and he denounced the
attempt to tamper with the principles of sound finance.
For his own part, Mr. Gladstone declined to accept
orders from the representatives of the people sent there
in order to diminish the public charges for an increase
of those charges.
Sir M. Hicks-Beach expressed surprise at the extra-
ordinary and uncalled for nature of the right hon.
gentleman's reply to the motion. The motion would be
a measure of extremely sound finance, by adding to the
efficiency of the cheapest military force that any
country possessed. It involved no interference with
the functions of the Executive power, and he contended
that it was the duty of the House to consider a matter
of this sort, and, if it considered a change necessary, to
recommend it to her Majesty4gpovernment.
After some observations bY the Chancellor of the
Exchequer and Mr. .1. 11. A. Macdonald,
Mr. Campbell-Bannerman objected to the terms of
the motion, and claimed, in the name of common
sense, that he should have the opportunity of ex-
amining the information which he had asked for, and of
arriving at a conclusion as to whether any, and
what, addition was necessary to the capitation grant
On a division the resolution was negatived by 187 to
166.

ARMY PSTISIATIN.

A long and discursive conversation ensued in which
the cost of the British occupation of Egypt, the pro-
tection of our coaling stations, mercantile harbours and
military ports the arming of the artillery volunteers,
the pay and ports,
of staff sergeants of militia,
the improvement of the soldier's ration, and the present
system of compulsory retirement were in turn discussed.
The House having gone into Committee of Supply
shortly after midnight, Mr. Oampbell-Bannerman made
the usual explanatory statement on the Army Esti-
mates. The total amount asked for was £18,333,200,
being an increase of £482,500 upon the estimakes of
last year. It was the desire of the military authorities,
in common with her Majesty's Government and the
country, to reduce as soon and as much as possible the
number of British troops in Egypt, and they reckoned
upon our army there, which recently numbered 17,350
men, being reduced in the coming year to 8000 men. The
recruiting for the army during the past year had been
highly satisfactory, 39,970 recruits having been passed
into the service. The volunteer force showed a steady
improvement in all respects, the increase of £lB,OOO in
the vote being nearly all due to increased Capitation
Grant, there having been close upon 10,000 additional
efficients. The right hon. gentleman described to
state of the supply and manufacture of guns and other
warlike stores and concluded by moving the vote for
the number stores,
land forces. This having been agreed
to, the sum of £4,467,300 was voted for pay and allow-
ances for the military service, and progress was then
reported.
The House adjourned at ten minutes past one
o'clock.