§ MR. BATESasked the Secretary of State for War, What steps have been taken by the Army Purchase Commissioners for the settlement of claims of 1056 Officers of the late Indian Ordnance Corps, in respect of compensation for loss of the sale of their Commissions?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, when I first entered upon the office I now hold, the question respecting the settlement of the claims of the officers of the late India Ordnance Corps had been a long time under discussion, and I found that the Army Purchase Commissioners were not in a position to deal with it, in consequence of the difficulties which had arisen between the India Office and the War Office. I thought it very desirable that the matter should, if possible, be brought to a conclusion, and therefore I proposed to my noble Friend at the India Office (the Marquess of Salisbury) that the matter should be referred to a distinguished ex-Judge, Sir Samuel Martin. The Papers were accordingly placed before him, and within a day or two Sir Samuel Martin has given his decision. It will be necessary that a short Bill should be brought in to enable the Army Purchase Commissioners to deal with that question upon the principles laid down by Sir Samuel Martin.