§ MR. AGG-GARDNER (Cheltenham)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as after the last examination for Lieutenants of Militia, held in March, only 51 Commissions were allotted out of 75, he will add the balance of 24 Commissions to the number to be competed for at the ensuing examination?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)At the examination held in March only 51 commissions were alloted out of 75, because only 51 officers qualified in the examination, and the balance of 24 was absorbed principally by giving extra commissions in the Line to meritorious non-commissioned officers. I cannot undertake to give more than the usual number of commissions to the Militia in the preliminary examination; but I fear, judging from past experience, that not more than that number of Militia officers will qualify at the examination.