§ MR. HOPWOODasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any action has been taken in consequence of the amendment of Section 32 of "The Army Act, 1881," by which the power of a court martial to sentence to penal servitude for the offence of fraudulently enlisting after previous discharge with disgrace from any part of Her Majesty's forces was taken away; and, whether he has been able to advise the remission, or reconsideration of the 150 or more sentences of penal servitude passed in 1882, 1883, and 1884?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, the amendment of the Act had been promulgated to the officers in command, and this would prevent further penalties of penal servitude being passed for this offence. As regarded the men now undergoing sentences of penal servitude, their cases would be considered when they had served two 1299 years. He might mention that two years' hard labour was considered a more severe punishment than a similar term of penal servitude.