THE BRITISH ARMY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17978, 25 March 1930, Page 8

THE BRITISH ARMY.

ESTIMATES SUBMITTED. REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURE. THE TROOPS IN INDIA. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. —Copyright. (Received March 25, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. In the House of Commons Right Hon. Thomas Shaw (Secretary for War) introduced the army estimates. He said they amounted to £40,500,000. showing a net reduction of £605,000. The decrease in expenditure was £1,343,000, but this was largely counter-balanced by the diminution in the receipts of £738,000. More than half the latter was accounted for by the loss of receipts to the army funds from Germany through the evacuation of the Rhine. This loss in a full year would amount to £'950,000. The actual numbers of the forces, exclusive of India, wore estimated at 148,900, compared with 041,000 in 1921. As regards the 60,000 men of the .British Army in India, Mr. Shaw pointed out that actually there was one .British soldier for every 5000 of native population. He was afraid there were some exaggerated opinions regarding the number of white troops in India. Problem of Recruiting. Sir R. L. Worthington Evans following Mr Shaw’s presentation of the Army Estimates, said the army recruiting problem was the most serious. They were 10,000 men short at Home and 4000 in India. He beliyed the main causes were the expectation of a large increase in unemployment benefit and the general disarmament lack. “We might sometime have to consider whether a man can lie treated as unemployed when the Stale is ready to employ him as a soldier or a sailor” (Labour dissent). He said, however, that legislative compulsion was out of the question, and if they could not compel they must attract. Probably the real reason of the falling off of recruiting was uncertainty as to exsoldiers’ future. They must somehow train a soldier for a career after leaving the army during service. They should either be taught a . trade or given secondary or university education for a higher position when they left the army.” An Amendment. Mr W. G. Cove (Labour, Glamorgan) moved declaring all warlike expenditure wasteful and calling on the Government to realise a policy of disarmament. Mr J. Brown (Labour, Ayr and Bute), seconded the motion and said Mr MacDonald hacl demanded that risks should be taken in the cause of peace. The army estimate had onlytaken one per cent, of risk. Labourite’s Reproof. Mr E. Slunwell (Labour, Linlithgow) ) vigorously attacked the back benchers for supporting an academic policy which was not, practical politics. " The Labour Party’s policy was disarmament by r International agreement not by theatrical and foolish gestures. Mr G. le M. Mander (Liberal, Wolverampton), said the Government must press forward Geneva’s call on all Governments to honour their disarmament pledges. 1 Mr Cove’s amendment was defeated by 274 to 21 votes.