§ COLONEL NAGHTENasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that there are several officers now gazetted to, and serving in the Militia. who joined that service on the faith of promises made them by their commanding officers that they should receive nominations from the Militia to the Line in 1879 or 1880; and, whether having regard to such promises, ho will grant these officers nominations from the Militia to the Line as heretofore?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY,in reply, said, that the promises of the commanding officers of the Militia had never been recognized by the War Office, they having no power to make them. The commissions were given for a single year by orders issued yearly to certain regiments in rotation, but never beyond a year; and, therefore, there was no power conferred upon the commanding officers to make the promises referred to. That being so, and inasmuch as two trainings qualified, he had left two years for those already in the Service, and he was afraid he could not undertake to extend that term?