§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will consider the case of those conductors of stores appointed before 1880, who now find themselves excluded from promotion by reason of the limitation of age to 45, these warrant officers having 1693 had every reason to expect more rapid promotion when they accepted their present position?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONAlthough these conductors were technically eligible for promotion by selection, without limit of age, prior to 1881, it is very improbable that any of them over 45 years of age would have been selected for an appointment from which retirement was compulsory at 55 years of age. It was, therefore, thought desirable to make the limit of age a matter of regulation. At first the limit was put at 40 years of age; but it was subsequently raised to 45 years. These Warrant officers had no vested right to promotion; and I cannot admit their claim to be compensated as a result of changes, made for the good of the Service generally, which only indirectly affected them.