§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, What is the number of commissioned officers in the Brigade of Militia Artillery (lately known as the West Cork Artillery); how many of these officers are residents in the County of Cork; and, whether he has any information as to the cause of the paucity of commissioned officers?
THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter) (who replied)said: There are seven commissioned officers besides the adjutant and quartermaster, of whom three reside in the County of Cork, and three in other parts of Ireland. The difficulty in obtaining officers for the Irish Militia is probably largely due to the impoverishment of the class from which officers were formerly drawn. The difficulty is everywhere increased, as regards the Artillery and Militia, by the fact that the advantages to those who enter the 456 Line from the Militia are less than in the case of the Infantry.