MR. PRICEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any rule or minute exists at the War Department prohibiting officers of the Auxiliary Forces from holding two commissions at 409 the same time in different branches of those forces, and, whether it is not the case that certain officers now hold commissions other than honorary commissions at the same time in the Militia and Volunteers; and, if so, whether any special exception has been made in the case of these officers?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYThere are very few instances in which officers of the Auxiliary Forces hold two commissions at the same time in different branches of those Forces. This has been permitted by a Regulation, which says that—
Every officer holding active commissions for more than one branch or two such commissions in the same branch of the Auxiliary Forces will elect before the 1st April, 1873, which he wishes to retain, and will resign the other, unless it be shown to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State that the relaxation of the rule in particular cases would be advantageous to the public service.There are also other rules of a similar character.