§ MR. HEYGATEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, in the event of an Adjutant of Militia signifying his intention of retiring before the 1st of October 1875, such retirement would be carried out at once; or, would he be permitted to remain, provided the brigade depôt was not formed, and he was recommended by his commanding officer and the Colonel of the Brigade Depôt to be retained until the depôt was formed.
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that under the circumstances stated the adjutant would not be permitted to remain until the brigade depot was formed, but his retirement would be carried out as soon as his successor could be conveniently appointed. Perhaps he might be permitted to explain a statement he had made yesterday in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for South Ayrshire (Colonel Alexander), the purport of which appeared to have been somewhat misapprehended. The hon. 473 and gallant Member had asked him whether adjutants of Militia regiments who decline to avail themselves of the new retirement scheme would be required, as the alternative, to perform the duties of adjutants to brigade depôts at the head-quarters of the sub-district? To that Question he had replied that the adjutants of Militia who declined to avail themselves of the new retirement scheme would be required to perform all military duty the same as other officers belonging to the brigade depot, and that the appointment of adjutants to a brigade depôt did not exist under present regulations.