§ MR. P. A. TAYLORsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the following published statement in regard to the Evesham Rifle Corps:—
That, for several months past, the corps has been in danger of being broken up from being entirely without officers; that, after much pressure, two highly respectable tradesmen, both town councillors, consented to serve as Lieutenant and Ensign respectively, but that Commissions were refused by the Lord Lieutenant on the ground that he 'did not consider their social position would allow of his appointing them commissioned officers?'
§ MR. CARDWELLMy attention, Sir, was called to this subject for the first time by my hon. Friend's Question. I 1089 understand it is not strictly accurate that the Lord Lieutenant has refused the commissions in question, as no formal application has been made to him for them. By the Regulations commissions are given on the recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant, and in dealing with a Volunteer force he consults what he conceives to be the feeling and wish of the county generally, and the members of the force in particular.