§ MR. COBBOLDasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the intention of Government to apply the five years retirement rule to Officers in command of the twelve new Line Regiments, those officers having been appointed since the 31st of October, 1871; and, if not, whether the Government is prepared to take any steps in order to relieve the extraordinary stagnation felt in the junior ranks of these Regiments, all the subalterns of which are Royal Officers?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, I may inform the hon. Member that negotiations are going on between the War Office and the Treasury with a view to remedy the grievances to which he alludes; but we have not yet arrived at any definite conclusion on the subject.