[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR, — It appears to me
that two of the most pressing questions of the day—viz., the relief of the able-bodied unemployed, and the recruiting for the Regular Army— might be to a great extent solved by the adoption of a system of training the Militia during the winter months. If the Militia were called out in the middle of November and kept in training until the middle of February—that is to say, during the dead of winter, when the sufferings of the
unemployed are most acute—employment in the Militia might be offered as a "test" to the able-bodied unemployed. This would be far better than employing them on unremunerative works created for the occasion. Who would say that the material would not be equal to the present average of the Army ? Then, if well treated, and not "messed about doing useless work," many would take a liking to soldiering, and instead of taking their discharge in February to seek their own precarious living, would, if permitted, join the Regulars. Thus the Militia would become the best of all recruiting mediums for the Regular Army, and, as before said, two national difficulties would be got over without an "Un- employed Bill" and without conscription.—I am, Sir, rte., Cxvis.
[We do not wish to drive unwilling men into the Army, but we have always strongly favoured the training of the Militia during the winter months as a reasonable and con- venient plan.—ED. Spectator.]
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