Later in the same evening Mr. Haldane's Supplementary Army Estimate
for a further amount of £100 to meet experldittire on Volunteer corps and the new County Associa- tions came under discussion. Mr. Haldane explained the smallness of the Estimate by saying that he had saved money in unforeseen ways during the current year. He had evaded some law expenses (upon which we may be allowed to com- pliment him) by doffing his cocked hat and resuming his wig. The formation of the Reserve of Officers had been delayed, and Section A of the Army Reserve, which was to have contained thirteen thousand men, had been reconstituted so as to contain six thousand Regulars and four thousand men on a Militia basis. It was desirable to pay off all Volunteer debts before March 31st, when the existing Auxiliary organisation would come to an end. The amount set aside for the expenses of the County Associations till March 31st was £8,000. Mr. Haldane's expedient of asking for a Supplementary Estimate instead of putting the vote for the Volunteers in next year's Estimates was a good deal criticised. The £8,000 allowed for the County Associations for the remainder of the financial year is probably insufficient. If the work is to be done well, the permanent staffs of the Associations must be competent men, and at present the excellent start made by the Associations is being rather spoiled by the want of secretaries.
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