§ GENERAL FEILDENasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Is it the fact that the leave restrictions with reference to retiring pensions retained by the late Secretary of State for India in his Despatch No. 407 to the Viceroy of India, dated 8th December, 1881, are found to impede the retirement of Officers of the Indian Army, and to induce them to serve on for the highest rate of pension, thus burdening the Service with superfluous Field Officers, and throwing a heavy prospective charge on the people of India; and, is it in contemplation to take steps to facilitate the acceptance by Officers of the Indian Army of the pensions fixed in the above-named Despatch?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSThere is no information to show that a relaxation of the conditions of service for pension would induce officers to retire on the lower rates of pension. The general effect of such a relaxation would probably only be to give a few officers who have obtained an excessive amount of leave their pensions earlier than they should receive them. It is not proposed to make any change in the existing Regulations.