THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2531, 4 May 1876, Page 3

THE ARMY ESTIMATES.

{Spectator, Fell. 19.) Mr Hardy brought forward tho Army Estimates on Thursday, in a very goodepoech. Ifc appears that he intends to grant an increase of 2d a day to all private soldiers, the monoy to ho regarded as deferred pay, and distributed ac a bounty of £18 on completion, of the six years' service. The Guards will reoeivo beyond this another penny a dav of diroot pay, and all non-commissioned officers obtain an inorease,— 6d a day for sergeantmajors, 2d a day foreorgoants and 4d a day if fchey remain two .years, and Id a day for corporals. * The Medioal Service is to bo better paid, ond tho Yeomanry turned into light Cavalry. The* Reserve mon also obtain £2 a year more, and will, Mr Hardy thinks, be ready when called upon. Theso changes appear to bo nil sound, and will, it is to be hoped, inoreaso the popularity of the Service, whioh already fcho Seoretary for War affirms is drawing fair recruits, tho average height of the Infantry being sft Ojin, wifch 81jj'n round tho chest. Whon tho additional BGOO men to he voted bave joined, we shall have a corps d'armie of moro than 80,000 men ready for foreign service, in addition to tho three regiments of the Guards. Tbe only dratfbaok to tho schome is that Mr Hardy suggests no method of retrenchment, but flings the whole burden on to the Estimates. The mothod of saving aug* gosted on 'Thursday, by rodueing the Army by 10,000 men, is of course absurd ; but Mr Hardy aots as if there were no waste.