§ GENERAL DUNNEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether it be true that £5,000, the moiety of an increase of £10,000, sanctioned by the Treasury to be applied to the Retirement of Officers of Artillery, is to be suspended until a scheme for retirement on some other basis has been substituted, while the total sum calculated to he the proportion for the Royal Engineers has been properly applied to the promotion of that corps?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, in reply, it would be in the recollection of the hon. and gallant Gentleman that a short time since the hon. Member for Pontefract (Mr. Childers) had put a similar Question to him. As there appeared to have been some misunderstanding with respect to his Answer on that occasion, he had entered into correspondence with the hon. Member respecting it. His answer now was that he did not wish to fetter himself with any distinct engagement upon this subject at present, but desired rather to reserve to himself the power of acting in accordance with what the fair requirements of promotion in the Royal Artillery might demand, and with reference to the plan which he hoped the House would adopt.