§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for War, If he would state to the House whether any and what arrangements have been made to render the present system of short service in the Army compatible with the conditions of service in India, and to protect the India revenue from the heavy burden which will be imposed on it if men are sent to India for very short periods; and, in particular, whether it has been in any way made generally known that the following passage in the "Memorandum showing the Advantages of the Army, and the terms on which young men are invited to join Her Majesty's forces," does not apply to troops serving or ordered for service in India:—
Within such limits as may from time to time be prescribed, soldiers may, on the recommendation of their commanding officers, and with their own free assent, after three years' Army service, pass to the reserve, and complete in that force the unexpired portion of their engagement?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, as to the latter Question of the hon. and gallant Member, no case had hitherto arisen on that part of the recruiting order. The thing was to be done on the recommendation of the commanding officer, and there had been no such recommendation. As to the other portion of the Question, he could only say that the subject was under his attention, and that he had promised to 1131 confer with the Secretary of State for India in regard to it. At present, however, no arrangement had been come to.