§ MAJOR ARBUTHNOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether all well conducted soldiers who have taken their discharge, or who have joined the Reserve or Auxiliary Forces, have received the gratuities to which they have become entitled under Army Circulars of 1870 and 1872, from the fund accruing from fines for drunkenness; and, if so, whether any plan has been decided on for the disposal of the sum of £45,852 12s. 2d., being the balance of the total amount of £53,256 2s. 5d., levied between July 1869, and August 1872; and, whether he will endeavour to make such arrangements for the future as will prevent the sum derivable from this source attaining such large proportions?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, a Committee was appointed in 1870 "to consider the mode of appropriating for the benefit of the Army the money stopped from soldiers as fines for drunkenness." The fund has been distributed in conformity with their recommendation, but the disbursements have not been so great as the Committee anticipated; and a short time ago, finding this to have been the case, I referred the subject for further consideration to the Financial Secretary 1394 with the assistance of the Military Secretary and the Deputy Adjutant General.