§ MR. PARNELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that of seven staff sergeants of the Royal Artillery, who have been commissioned 521 from the ranks since the 1st November, 1877, only one had seen any foreign service, or had any practical knowledge of the duties of an artilleryman; and, whether all the others had spent the entire or the greater part of their service at desk and office work; and, if so, whether it is the practice of the authorities in raising men from the ranks of the Royal Artillery to have regard rather to the civil capabilities than the professional and military qualifications of those promoted?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYSir, there have been only five non-commissioned officers of the Royal Artillery who have been commissioned from the ranks since the 1st of November last. Of these, three have served abroad and are practical artillerymen. The other two are men of great intelligence and have special claims to promotion, and if they have been employed at the desk, as I believe they have, hon. Members of this House will not think they are less deserving of promotion on that account. With reference to the apprehension expressed by the hon. Member for Meath that in making promotion in the Royal Artillery the military qualifications of the men are less considered than their civil capacity, I can assure him that such is not the case. The men are promoted on their merits, and, as far as possible, no class of good service is overlooked.
§ MR. PARNELLasked, Whether any of the men referred to had seen foreign service?
COLONEL LOYD LINDSAYsaid, he had already stated that three had seen foreign service; they were proved artillerists.