§ SIR A. ACLAND-HOOD (Somerset, Wellington); I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether non-commissioned officers appointed Sergeant Instructors of Volunteers continue to serve under their Army engagements, and are subject to all penalties and privileges involved under such engagements; and, if so, what is the reason that they are excluded from the privilege of obtaining return tickets at single fares when proceeding on furlough?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling, &c.)Sergeant Instructors of Volunteers have the same military status 567 as non-commissioned officers serving with Regular troops. The privilege of obtaining return tickets at single fares when proceeding on furlough is a concession entirely within the discretion of the Railway Companies to give or to withhold, and, as explained in my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens on the 16th of last month, the Railway Companies have not felt themselves able to extend the privilege to non-commissioned officers of the Army serving as Sergeant Instructors of Volunteers.