§ GENERAL SHUTEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will consider the desirability of a permanent general national fund being established for the relief of widows and orphans of soldiers, sailors, and marines who die in consequence of wounds and injuries received in the Services, and for increasing, under certain circumstances, the pensions awarded to men on his charge; and, whether the Government would recommend Her Majesty to issue a fresh Commission to the Commissioners' Patriotic Fund for the purpose of administering to a fund, such as above proposed, to take the place of those special funds to meet cases calling for unusual sympathy?
§ COLONEL STANLEYSir, in answer to the first part of the Question, I have to say that I have frequently considered, whether it would be possible to establish a general national fund for the purpose named by the hon. and gallant Member; but I have never seen my way to take any practical steps in that direction without the fear of interfering prejudicially with charitable institutions which are doing their work well. With regard to the second part of the Ques- 1807 tion, steps are being taken for the extension of the powers of the Commissioners' Patriotic Fund; but I am not able at this moment to say when the supplementary charter will be granted. It would, in any ease, not be advisable to extend indefinitely such a supplemental charter. It might be extended beyond its present purposes; but it would not be wise to extend it indefinitely for all times.