§ MAJOR TRENCHasked the Under Secretary of State for India, whether he will explain to the House why it is that Majors in the scientific corps (i. e. in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers) employed in the Public Works Department, or holding Staff appointments in India, receive emoluments much smaller in amount than those drawn by Majors in the Cavalry, Infantry, or Staff Corps, filling precisely similar posts?
MR. GRANT DUFFSir, the salary known as Staff salary granted for the performance of the same duties, whether in the Public Works Department or in Staff appointments in India, is, of course, the same whether the persons perform- 271 ing those duties belong to the Scientific Corps or to other branches of the Army; but the regimental pay of a major in the Scientific Corps being not in India only, but all through the British Empire, smaller than that of a major of cavalry or infantry, the total amount of money yearly received by these officers, in whom the hon. and gallant Gentleman is interested, is less than what would be received by majors of cavalry and infantry. I need hardly add that artillery officers in India only accept Staff appointments because they prefer so to do, and that engineer officers in India are almost always paid for their services by a lump sum per mensem, known as consolidated salary.
§ MAJOR TRENCHsaid, as the answer of his hon. Friend did not meet his Question, he would give Notice that to-morrow he would put his Question in the following form:—Whether he would explain to the House why it was that officers in the Scientific Corps employed in the Public Works Department, or holding Staff appointments in India, received on promotion to the rank of Major the rate of pay drawn by Captains, while Officers in the Cavalry, Infantry, or Staff Corps holding the rank of Major received the full benefit of the emoluments of that rank?