MR. HUBBARD (for Mr. FRESHFIELD)asked the Secretary of State for War, 773 Whether it is true that a Royal Warrant has been issued, by which it is provided that Adjutants of Militia shall be eligible on retirement, and without limit as to age, for appointment as Majors in the regiment from which they shall retire; whether the effect of such a regulation will not be to interfere with the ordinary course of promotion of the Officers in the Regiment; and, if he would state what means will be taken to prevent injustice to the Officers in the Regiment if an Officer not in the Regiment may be admitted into it as Major, to the prejudice of the Officer who would otherwise succeed to the vacancy?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that there was such a Warrant as that to which the Question referred, and that the regulations were entirely in the hands of the commanding officers, who might be taken to be the best guardians of the interests of the officers of their regiments. No pressure whatever was put upon the commanding officers inference to these appointments.