HOME DEFENCE AND OLD-AGE PENSIONS.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") Srn,—On reading your interesting article on" The New Army Scheme" in the Spectator of March 16th, I was very much struck by your admirable suggestion for keeping in touch with the large number of trained men who every year sever their connection with the Regulars, the Militia, the Yeomanry, and the Volunteers, and at the same time solving (in a great measure) the problem of old-age pensions. As a Volunteer officer in a mining and manufacturing district I know from experience what numbers of working men leave the ranks of the Volunteers every year with a useful knowledge of drill and shooting, which would make them invaluable to the country in case of "imminent danger from invasion." A scheme of pensions such as you suggest would keep the War Office in touch with these men, and would also add immensely to the numbers of the men who would join the Volunteers for a period of service, besides keeping in the ranks for another two years the large number of men who, for very little reason, retire at the end of the three years for which they are com- pelled to serve, and who would be very much more efficient after another two years. One alteration I should like to suggest in your scheme. You suggest a man who had served his time should have a policy entitling him to an old-age pension at sixty-five, provided he registered himself and reported himself twice a year for identification and endorse- ment of his policy. Why not go a step further and insist on his going through some shooting course every year (however simple), and thus keeping up, or even improving, his shooting? His drill he would easily pick up again any time, but it would be much better for him to be given a chance of practising shoot- ing every year, and compelled to do a certain defined course. He could easily be attached to some battalion or detachment for this purpose, and a certificate that he had fired his course could be endorsed each year on his policy.—Hoping that your admirable scheme will be kept prominently forward, [Our correspondent's suggestion is per se excellent. We did not put it forward, however, because we did not want to overload the scheme. If and when the Reserve is formed, we hope that shooting competitions may be arranged for the Home Defence Reservists in each district. The great thing is to get the register, and to secure that simplicity of scheme is necessary. Trained men must not be frightened off the register by the fear that peace duties will be imposed-on them. —En. Spectator.]
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