§ MAJOR-GENERAL BURNABYasked the Secretary of State for War, If "purchase" officers who wish to retire from the Army and realize that value of their Commissions guaranteed by the State, 557 are (although the purchase system is abolished whereby promotion to a death vacancy has ceased to be a financial benefit to those in whose favour it existed) required to furnish a medical certificate of good health; failing which they are required to pass a quarantine of six weeks, in order that the State may benefit by not having to pay them should they die within that period; and, if such is the case, whether this procedure may at once cease, and all moneys derived thereby since the abolition of purchase may be paid to the executors of any officer who, having made application to retire, may not have survived the six weeks' quarantine in question?
§ MR. CHILDERSThis is a matter entirely beyond my control. It is governed by the 3rd section of the Army Regulation Act, 1871, and no change in the rule could be made without an Amendment to the Act, which I see no reason to propose.