HC Deb 16 March 1863 vol 169 cc1465-7
CAPTAIN JERV1S

said, he would Leg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether the Government has determined to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire whether the guarantee given to the officers of the late East India Company's Army by Parliament, by Act 21 & 22 Vict., c. 105, and 23 & 24 Vict., c. 100, has or has not been departed from?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

, in reply, said, he felt the importance of the subject which the hon. and gallant Gentleman had given notice of his intention to bring before the House, but he (Sir C. Wood) thought the course proposed by the hon. and gallant Member of moving for a Select Committee of inquiry exceedingly inconvenient, as likely to lead to great delay. He needed not to say that the object of himself and colleagues was faithfully to fulfil the pledges given by Parliament. There was no question of the disposition of the Members of his Council, and especially the military members, to show every disposition in favour of their brethren in India, and he thought he should be able to satisfy the House that those pledges had not been in any way departed from; but, as no person was the best judge of his own, case, he thought it desirable that an inquiry should take place by other persons. It was also most desirable that this should be done without delay. He had therefore recommended to Her Majesty, and Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to approve the recommendation, that a Royal Commission to inquire into the subject should be appointed. That Commission would comprise Members of both Houses of Parliament.

COLONEL SYKES

Will the officers who offer to be examined be received for examination before that Commission?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

That will depend upon whether the Gentlemen composing the Commission think it necessary.

SIR MINTO FARQUHAR

Will the Commission be composed exclusively of Members of both Houses of Parliament?

SIR CHARLES WOOD

I said "comprising Members of both Houses of Parliament."

COLONEL SYKES

said, he wished to ask the hon. Member for Harwich (Captain Jervis) if he intends to bring forward his Motion relating to the grievances of officers in the Indian army tomorrow evening?

CAPTAIN JERVIS

said, he could not, in common fairness to the officers who had intrusted him with the matter, postpone the Motion without the House having distinctly before it what sort of a Commission it was to be to which the subject was to be referred, what reference was to be made to that Commission, and what would be the order in which the inquiry would be carried out.