§ DR. LUSHasked the Secretary for War, Whether, seeing the continued indisposition to enter Her Majesty's Service in the Medical Department of the Army, evinced by the scarcity of applications for commissions, he can hold out any prospect of the condition of that 729 service being improved; and, especially if he is prepared to place the Medical Officers upon the same footing as other officers with regard to exchanges?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, considering the very short time the new system has been established, I do not consider 56 candidates a small number to have presented themselves since August last. Thirty-three passed through the school this month and will be duly commissioned, and 23 are now under examination. Further, it should be remembered that three Departments are competing at the same time for medical men, and that India, being the best paid, of course monopolizes the largest share. I may mention that the greater number of vacancies is caused by the retirement on half-pay through ill health of medical officers of 20 and 25 years' service. With regard to exchanges, I have on a former occasion stated to this House that each application is considered on its own merits, and the Director-General of the Army Medical Department uses discretionary power in recommending or refusing the indulgence, having due regard to the officers' services at home. In fact, no application has been refused when an officer has been at home under three years.