EECEUITING. 
75 
battalions were abroad a depot should be immediately formed, as in 
Germany when a regiment proceeds abroad, and that 500 men should 
be added to the establishment for this depot. I do not think this has 
been properly carried out; it is stated I know by the authorities, and 
it is believed by them, that recruits trained in a depot are not equal to 
those trained in battalions ; that is their opinion ; and further it is said 
that in case of a war breaking out a depot could not be made into a 
fighting unit while the home battalion training recruits can always 
quickly be rendered ready for service in the field. The question is one 
of extreme difficulty ; we miss the fundamental principle of the German 
army, or of any other foreign army—compulsory service. We cannot 
do without a reserve and we cannot go back to long service in its 
entirety. 
Many people, I consider, whose opinion is of very’great weight, think 
that we might have two classes of service : that is, one class for home 
service entirely, three years with the colours and five with the reserve, 
and another class for both at home and abroad of 12 years, extending to 
21 with a pension at the end of it. I cannot myself give any opinion as 
to the merits of this system ; it would be proposed I believe to induce 
men in the first class with a three years’ service to extend their service, 
and they would always be allowed to pass into the other class. It 
seems to be forgotten that we have a long service running with a short 
service, and that every man of good character can become a long service 
soldier (hear, hear). The qualifications of his good character are not 
very high ; he must have one badge to extend his service from seven 
to 12 years, and two badges to extend his service from 12 to 21. 
Therefore long service does exist amongst us, and under present condi¬ 
tions it is not as popular as we should like it to be. There are now 
950 warrant officers, 857 serjeants, and 14,479 other non-commissioned 
officers and a large number of men who are long-service soldiers 
earning pensions. 
Another circumstance which has been mentioned to-night, and which 
no doubt exerts an immense influence on enlistment, is the employ¬ 
ment of soldiers in civil life. There are a considerable number 
of soldiers so employed. In the Metropolitan Police there are 
2,200 soldiers, of whom 500 are reservists ; in the City Police there 
are 190. Both the Commissioners of Police have told me that soldiers 
make as a rule most excellent policemen. It is a very great mistake 
to suppose, as is very frequently done—I have heard it said over and over 
again—that the Germans employ all old soldiers in civil employment. 
The only men employed in government civil employment, are men who 
have finished 12 years’ service. Certainly soldiers are employed in 
every branch, but every German is a soldier, and I am sure that has 
given rise to the mistake. 
I should like particularly to allude to one thing, and that is the 
characters that are awarded to a large number of soldiers on their 
discharge (applause). It is a very serious matter indeed, and I assure 
you I very often consult large employers of labour, and one in particular 
who is most anxious to employ soldiers, and he says this—That the 
military character “ good ” is now reckoned amongst civilian employers 
of labour as “bad.” I know, gentlemen, we are all tied down by 
regulations, which I hope soon to see altered, to give certain characters 
