§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, to explain verbally, or to lay upon the Table, a Statement as to the exact operation of his Scheme for granting free rations to soldiers, specifying the amount of pay previously received by the men of each branch of the service—viz., Household Cavalry and Infantry, Cavalry and Infantry of the Line, Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Army Service Corps, and the amount which they will now receive in addition to a free ration; how Non-Commissioned Officers will be affected; and, any occasions or circumstances under which it is proposed that stoppages of pay should be made other than those at present existing?
§ MR. CARDWELLThe stoppage of which I spoke on Monday was, as I said, that for the ration of bread and meat, which is universal throughout the Army, and amounts to 4½d. The stoppage for washing sheets is also intended to be abolished by the arrangement. It is intended to give to the—Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery, 1s. 4d.; driver, 1s. 3d.; gunner, Royal Artillery, ls. 2½d.; driver, ls. 2½d.; Royal Engineers, 1s. 2½d.; private — Cavalry Line, ls. 2d.; Foot 1035 Guards, ls.; Infantry, ls.; and Army Service Corps, ls. 2d. Non-commissioned officers will all be more or less benefited. As a role, the gain will be one halfpenny; but in some instances only one farthing. The Army Hospital Corps will have free rations, and on account of the exceptional position of the Household Cavalry in regard to pay, it is not proposed that this arrangement shall, for the present at least, be applied to them. As I stated the other evening, the re-engagement money is included, so that a re-engaged man in the Infantry will gain one halfpenny, not l.d. The occasions on which stoppages will be made, other than those now existing, resolve themselves into stopping the whole pay of a man when in hospital from causes due to his own intemperance or vice. As I mentioned, if in any case any class could upon the whole lose anything in the arrangement, which is a complicated one, that result will be provided against.
§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked whether there would be any stoppage with regard to the furlough?
§ MR. CARDWELLI stated the other evening that furlough pay will be the regular pay, and that it is not intended to make any allowance for the loss of rations during furlough.
§ In answer to Lord ELCHO,
§ MR. CARDWELLadded: I spoke only of the principal rations, for which 4.d. is deducted. What is called the grocery, or mess stoppage, is, as I understand it, on a different footing. It is to supply the means of making the mess purchases through the Control department at certain stations, and has been thought to be a convenient way of enabling the mess to make its purchases more conveniently and cheaply than in the open market.