§ MR. OLIPHANTsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is his intention to inquire into the present condition of the Military Store Department, with a view of insuring greater economy and efficiency in its administration; as well as of redressing the just grievances of which the Officers of that Department complain; and which arise from stagnation of promotion, inequality of rank, and inadequate representation of the War Office?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I understand it to be the wish of my hon. Friend that I should give some explanation of the answer which I made to him the other evening in replying to some observations of his as to certain alleged grievances of the officers of the Military Store Department. I find upon reference to the report in The Times, that I stated—"The Commissariat Department was organized with higher grades of officers, simply because the duties were considered to be more responsible." I only wish to explain, with reference to that statement, that no doubt the opinion of those who were engaged in the reorganization of the Military Store Department was that the duties of the Commissariat were at that time of a more responsible nature than those of the Military Store Department. I did not feel called upon then, and do not feel called upon now, to enter into the consideration of the question whether that was the case or not. That was no doubt the opinion of those who organized the two departments, and I must 579 say that in my opinion, looking only at the difference of position of the officers of the two departments, there is no necessity for re-organizing the Military Store Department, with the view of assimilating the system in that department to that of the Commissariat. With regard to the latter part of the Question of my hon. Friend, I admit, as I admitted the other evening, that there are some circumstances affecting the position of the officers at present in the Department which are deserving of inquiry. But if the Question of my hon. Friend points to any inquiry taking place outside of the War Office, I must inform him that I do not think that would be expedient. All the questions involved may be very properly inquired into in the War Office, but I cannot pledge myself as to the time when such an inquiry would take place.