§ MR. RIPLEYasked the Secretary of State for War, If he would state to the House how many non-commissioned officers have obtained commissions in those branches of the Service which have been affected by the abolition of the purchase system since that Act came into operation; and, how many non-commissioned 783 officers obtained commissions in those branches of the Service affected in the corresponding number of years previous to the abolition of the purchase system?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, between the 1st November, 1871, and the 31st March, 1875, the number of non-commissioned officers appointed to sub-lieutenancies, quarter-masterships, and riding-masterships was 106; the number appointed between the 1st of June, 1868, and the 31st of October, 1871, was 61.