§ MAJOR-GENERAL BURNABYasked the Secretary of State for War, If existing Colonels who were Majors before the 1st of October 1877, and who were eligible for promotion to Major General until the age of fifty-eight, but who under paragraph 77 (2) of the New Royal Warrant, are rendered ineligible for such promotion, and who furthermore thereby will be compulsorily retired at the age of fifty-five will be allowed "to serve and be eligible for promotion until the 1st of July 1885, up to the age of fifty-nine years, and afterwards up to the age of fifty-eight years," as in the case of Colonels who were Lieutenant Colonels before the 1st of October 1877; and, if this relaxation is not granted to all such Majors, whether it will be granted to Colonel Marter of the First or King's Dragoon Guards, who, being a Major, captured King Cetshwayo, and to any other Officers, who, being Majors before the 1st of October 1877, were also promoted for distinguished service in the field?
§ MR. CHILDERSNo, Sir; I have no intention to relax the rule under which Colonels who were Majors only before October, 1877, will retire at the fixed age of Colonels' retirement—that is to say, at 55. Nor can I see any grounds for a special exception in Colonel Marter's favour. He is apparently only 48 years of age.