COLONEL STUART KNOXsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether in the case of the 4th Hussars and other Cavalry Regiments now or hereafter to be ordered to India, the augmentation promotion will be allowed to go on in the Regiment, or whether it is his intention that Majors shall be brought in from other Corps, or from half-pay, in the manner that has lately given rise to so much complaint?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONIn answer, Sir, to the Questions of my hon. and gallant Friend, I have to say that the intention of the Government with respect to our cavalry regiments returned from India and other foreign service is that the second Major shall not be reduced. The result of that will be that the complaints which have hitherto been made on the part of cavalry officers, and which are not without reason, will for the future be avoided. As to whether the augmentation promotion will be allowed to go on in the regiments leaving England, I will not pledge myself upon that point. I think the question must be decided in each case upon combined considerations of the public interest and of the services of the officers concerned. With regard to the 4th Hussars, the promotion will be allowed, and the senior captain will succeed to the second majority. I also wish to state that I propose to make one exception of a prospective nature, and that will be in favour of Captain Harnett, of the 11th Hussars 169 —a regiment which went to India last autumn, and, under the present regulations, Captain Harnett had a junior put over his head. It is my intention that Captain Harnett shall be promoted to the second majority, and that Major Jervis shall return to his post in the regiment from which he came.
COLONEL STUART KNOXsaid, he wished to know whether the subalterns would receive the benefit of the promotion?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONI presume the promotion will go on in the regular course.