§ COLONEL O'BEIRNEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that an allowance has been authorised for the families of soldiers of the Malta Garrison, not on the married roll, who are serving in Egypt, and who married out of Malta, and that the same allowance has been refused to those soldiers who were married in Malta, thereby leaving their families in a state of destitution; and, if he will explain why this distinction should be made?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I have to say that the wives and families of soldiers not on the married establishment have no claim on the public. But to prevent their becoming chargeable to the local community, they are, in such cases as the present, when they married in England, sent, at the public expense, to their homes in England, and they receive subsistence on board ship or while waiting for passage. Maltese women, married without leave, are in their native country, and have no claim whatever. I certainly shall do nothing to encourage marriage without leave.