§ CAPTAIN NAYLOR-LEYLAND (Colchester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, since Regimental Sergeant Major William Cousins, late of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, was discharged on 28th October, 1884, with a total service towards pension of 29 years 143 days, and awarded a pension of 3s. per diem under Articles 1,273 and 1,277, Royal Warrant, 1878, will he cause inquiries to be made as to why it was that his pension was not awarded under Article 1,033 or Article 1,035 of the Royal Warrant of 1884, the former of which would have entitled him to a pension of 3s. 3d. and the latter to one of 3s. 8d. per diem; and whether, since this non-commissioned officer's application has been met, on the part of the Lords Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, by ignoring the Warrant of 1884, the one under which the extra 5d. a day is claimed, he will cause a full inquiry to be made and furnish a full explanation as to why the Warrant of 1884 is held to be not applicable, if it is so held, to a first class staff sergeant?
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL -BANNERMAN, Stirling, &c.)This non-commissioned officer was promoted to be sergeant major on February 14, 1877, and, after serving only 107 days in that rank, accepted the position of canteen sergeant, which carries with it only the pay and allowance of a private. On being discharged in October, 1884, he reverted to the rank of sergeant major; but, during the time he had been serving as canteen sergeant the status of regimental sergeant major had been altered, and the rank of warrant officer had been granted to those holding such rank. Sergeant Major Cousins reverted to the position of a sergeant 601 major who was not a warrant officer, and was necessarily pensioned accordingly. There are, however, peculiar circumstances in this ease, and I am having the fullest inquiry made as to whether anything more can be given to this pensioner. I will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result of these inquiries.