§ SIR WILLIAM CROSSMAN (Portsmouth)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is his intention to make further inquiries, by means of a Departmental Committee or otherwise, as to any disadvantages under which Army Quartermasters and Ridingmasters consider that they labour?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)In 1886 the alleged grievances of the Ridingmasters and Quartermasters were very carefully considered by a small Departmental Committee. This Committee came to the conclusion that several of the points put forward as grievances were not grievances at all, and they were unable, in consequence, to recommend any change concerning them. But they also made certain recommendations in favour of these officers. All these latter recommendations were adopted, and have had the effect of distinctly improving the conditions of service of Quartermasters and Ridingmasters. Since the War- 1231 rant on this subject was published, in 1886, these officers have carried on what appears little less than an organized agitation, by means of letters to papers, printed circulars to Members of Parliament, and the like, for these concessions, which the Committee reported they had no ground for claiming. This agitation appears to me to speak very badly for the discipline of those by whom it is promoted. I have only to say that I think it would be most detrimental to the Army if applications which had been refused on their merits were granted to outside pressure. I can hold out no hope of this taking place in the present instance.