Appendix No. 6.
CANADA.
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484
Rough Memorandum referred to in the foregoing Papers.
CANADIAN RESERVE.
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1. Raise fifty-six companies of fifty rank and file, through the volunteer militia. "2. Thus distributed-
Ontario Quebec
New Brunswick.. Nova Scotia
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Companies.
Battalions.
24
3
16
2
8
1
8
1
56
7
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3. To be armed, clothed, and paid by England.
"4. The reserve companies to be called out for one month's continuous training each year in battalions, to be paid and subsisted by England.
"5. Head-quarters, or training-centres of battalions (five), to be selected in Ontario (London, Hamilton, Toronto, Port Hope, Kingston); in Quebec (three), (La Prairie, Sherbrooke, Quebec); in New Brunswick (two), (Fredericton, St. John); in Nova Scotia (two), (both at Halifax).
"6. The rank and file to receive 6d. a-day reserve pay during peace, and the same treatment during war as English Army Reserve men, with grant of land from Canada added.
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7. In time of war these battalions to be recruited to 800 each, and, if sent out of Canada, their places to be taken by twelve reserve battalions, formed in like manner.
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The cost of training these twelve battalions (1 dollar a-day for each man, including officers) would be about 5,000%. For this outlay the English Government would, in fact, maintain twelve battalions. Or, calling out all officers and non-commissioned officers and half of the rank and file each year, the outlay would be about 7,500%.”
Sir John MacDonald reported as follows:-
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66
'Ottawa, November 10, 1879,
The Undersigned, to whom was referred the Confidential Memorandum of your Excellency on the formation of a Royal Canadian Reserve, begs to report as follows:-
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He understands the propositions to be—
"1. To raise in the Dominion seven battalions, containing in all fifty-six companies of infantry, as a reserve, under similar regulations to those which obtain with regard to the reserve force in England.
"2. That the enrolment of the force is to be for six years.
"3. That the force is to be clothed and armed by Her Majesty's Government, and to be paid by
such Government 6d. a-day, besides training pay and a gratuity on discharge.
4. That Canada is to assist in the scheme by allowing each reserve company to form a part of, or to be attached to, an existing battalion of militia, and by giving a free grant of land on discharge.
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The Undersigned has no means of knowing whether the proposition would be favourably received and the required force enlisted, but he thinks the experiment is worth a trial, and that Canada should assist in making the trial. There is no necessity for any promise of a free grant of land, as any adult can, at any time, on becoming a settler for three years on the Dominion lands, receive a free grant of 160 acres of land. An additional grant could not well be made to the members of this force on discharge without giving the same advantage to our own militia force after six years' service.
"The only objection to the scheme which occurs to the Undersigned is that it may be doubtful whether, in the case of war, the men, when called upon, would be forthcoming. From the proximity of Canada to the United States, service could easily be evaded by men to whom foreign service might be distasteful, by their crossing the border and residing in the neighbouring country for a time. Unless great care be taken in enrolling only men of good character, that evasion is likely to be largely practised. The danger of this would not be so great among the recruits raised in the rural districts, who would be mostly sons of farmers having a present or future interest in the soil; but there can be no sufficient security against desertions from the ranks of those enlisted in the towns. It is presumed that the men of the reserve force could not serve at the same time in the Canadian volunteer militia, and it may be a question only to be tested by experience whether it would not weaken the volunteer force by withdrawing some of its best men.
"On the whole, however, the Undersigned is of opinion, for the various reasons given by your Excellency, that the proposition should be favourably entertained and encouraged by the Canadian Government.
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All which is respectfully submitted.
(Signed)
"JOHN A. MACDONALD,'
The principles which should, I think, be kept in view in the execution of the scheme for the embodiment of a Canadian contingent in the Imperial reserve forces are:-
1st. That the Canadian active militia should not in any way be weakened by the formation of such a reserve force.
2nd. That the reserve should be composed of men who have served their term in the active militia.
The active militia would in this way be enabled rightly to consider the reserve as the offspring of
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