§ MR. ONSLOW (for Sir TREVOR LAWRENCE)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is the case that Officers of British Line Regiments get their captaincies and majorities in about nine and sixteen years respectively, while Officers of the Indian Staff Corps do not attain to those ranks until twelve and twenty years; and, whether, as Indian Officers have to serve under very trying conditions as to climate and other circumstances, he is prepared to recommend that they shall be placed on terms of equality, in regard to promotion, with British Officers?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said the conditions of the service of officers of the Indian Staff Corps, and of officers of British Line Regiments, differed in so many important particulars that it was impossible to apply the same rule to both classes. It was true that the Indian officers had to serve a longer time in order to attain their captaincies and majorities than the British Line officers; but, on the other hand, the former were, in respect to compulsory retirement and other matters, placed at a distinct advantage over the latter.