§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that grave discontent exists among the officers of the Indian Staff Corps on account of the 390 slowness of their promotion to the ranks of Captain and Major; and whether he is prepared to bring the matter to the notice of the Indian Government, with a view to effecting a reduction in the existing fixed periods of service, namely, 11 and 20 years, and thus assimilate the rate of promotion somewhat nearer to that governing for some years past the British Army, and which has averaged about eight and 16 years?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) (for Sir J. GOKST, Under Secretary of State for India) Manchester, N. E.The Secretary of State is not aware that there is any grave discontent among the officers of the Indian Staff Corps on account of the slowness of their promotion to the ranks of Captain and Major; and, as at present advised, he has no intention of taking the initiative in the matter.