MOTION FOR A SELECT COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 6 May 1867)

§ MR. CHILDERS
said, that as he understood that there would be no objection to his Motion, he should only detain the House for a few minutes. He had to move for a Select Committee on the systems of 70 retirement in the Artillery, Engineers, and Marines. He had already moved for Papers on the subject, by a perusal of which no one could fail to be satisfied that these systems were altogether unsatisfactory. In the Artillery and Engineers the system consisted of the establishment of a fund of £48,000 a year, two-thirds of which was applicable to the former corps; and as any balance arose on this fund retirements of £600 a year were offered to the major-generals and colonels, and in certain cases smaller amounts to officers of lower rank. Before accepting these retirements the officers had to calculate whether they had a better chance of higher emoluments by remaining on the establishment; and the system worked so badly that at the present time the senior colonels of Engineers were ten years older than the senior colonels of Artillery, and that instead of retiring the older officers, the last sums of £600 a year were refused down to colonels between the twentieth and twenty-fifth on the list, ten years younger than those at the top. Such a system was a mere irrational lottery, and no wonder that its failure was used as an argument in favour of the purchase system. As to the Marines, he hardly knew whether there were any rules as to their retirement, but they appeared to have a very undue number of retired officers, and at a higher rate than the other two corps. He hoped that the result of the Committee's inquiry would be to put the system on a fair footing as to the three corps, and to remove much dissatisfaction which now existed. With this view, he moved for the Committee.

§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON
said, he entirely agreed with his hon. Friend that it was most desirable that some inquiry should take place on the subject, in order that some improved system of retirement might be settled for these seniority corps. Already there had been three departmental Committees on the subject, and they were unanimous as to the necessity of an increased allowance for retirement. He thought the subject well worthy of investigation if it were only on account of the great stagnation of promotion which had up to a recent period existed. The result of the most recent inquiry was that the officers of the Engineers and Artillery would reach an age before promotion that would seriously interfere with the interests of the service. He should have preferred a Royal Commission, but he would not oppose the proposal for a Committee.

MAJOR JERVIS
said, he approved of the appointment of a Committee, believing it a better mode of proceeding than the appointment of a Royal Commission. Something should be done to stimulate promotion in the Engineers and Artillery.

MR. OTWAY
said, he supported the Motion, but he hoped that the military element would not be too predominant on the Committee. He trusted that the inquiries of the Committee would not be confined to the subjects mentioned in the Notice given by the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Childers). He thought it desirable that a comparison should be instituted between the system of retirement in the corps mentioned in the Notice and other corps.