COLONEL JERVISasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, after further inquiry, he is in a position to maintain his statement that it is not the case that not only did the rank of substantive Major exist in the regiments of Artillery of the several Indian Presidencies in 1824, but that it was continued up to 1858–9, during which period there was no such rank as 1st Captain; whether Clause 2 of Royal Warrant, 5th July 1872, promoting 1st Captains of Artillery to majorities, does not state that such promotion was made because it was "expedient;" and Clauses 9 and 11 of the Warrant distinctly assert that the regulations contained 2 therein respecting retirements on full pay only affect officers "not subject to Indian retiring regulations;" and, if the purport of the Clauses of the Warrant is correctly set forth, if he will explain to the House how the Warrant affects or supersedes the guarantee afforded by the Act 21 and 22 Vic, c. 106, as to the retirement of Officers of the late East India Service under G. O. 12th August 1824, as regards Majors of Artillery any more than Majors of the Cavalry or Infantry, so commissioned on or after the 5th July 1872?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONSir, as this is the third series of long categorical questions which I have had both to read as well as answer, it is not to be wondered at if my Answers have not been as clear as I could wish. The rank of substantive Major did exist in the regiments of Artillery in the several Indian Presidencies in 1824, and continued to do so until 1858–9, when it was abolished, and the Majors were made Lieutenant-Colonels. What I said the other day—namely, "that Majors were 3 promoted by Royal Warrant of July, 1871, from the rank of 1st Captain, thus altering the existing regulations of 1824, under which there were no Majors of Artillery"—does not clearly express what I had intended to say—namely, that at the time when the Warrant was issued there were no Majors of Artillery to whom the regulations of 1824 applied. The Royal Warrant of the 5th July, 1872, was not made applicable to India, although it affected the rank and designation of officers serving there as else where. The pay of all officers serving there and the retired pay of those under Indian rules were laid" down by General Order, dated the 15th August, 1872. The Royal Warrant of July, 1872, in no way affects the guarantee afforded by the Act 21 and 22 Vic, c. 106, it being a Warrant issued by the War Office and applicable to Officers of the British Army.