§ MR.TENNANTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has any objection to state why there are at present in the Cavalry of the Line so many supernumerary Majors on full pay or waiting absorption; and, whether it is the intention of the authorities at the 75 War Office, having regard to the just claims of officers, and the economical administration of the Army, to fill the vacancies that occur in other Cavalry regiments by the transfer and absorption of these supernumeraries?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSupernumeraries arise from two causes—one, the reduction of the Establishment, and the other on giving power to those officers to hold Staff appointments by which regimental promotion has been given in those corps to which they belong. It is not generally the intention of the authorities to fill up vacancies in other Cavalry regiments by these supernumerary Majors; for that would interfere unfairly with the promotion of the senior Captains and Lieutenants of those regiments.