§ MR. PIRIEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, with reference to the case of the late Veterinary Captain Finlayson, whether, in coming to the decision that this officer should retire from the Service, the fact that he would thereby receive a sum of £800 on complying with this decision, formed an essential element of such decision; and if he can state by whom the Secretary of State's instructions that he would be required to send in his papers were given to this officer, and whether those instructions were complied with; if so, 774 what was the date on which Captain Finlayson's resignation was received by his superior officer?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. G. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe Question whether or not Captain Finlayson would be entitled to any gratuity or retiring allowance did not affect the decision arrived at with regard to him. The instructions to him to send in his papers were given by the Field Marshal commanding the Forces in Ireland, and were complied with by the 28th January 1898. The Field Marshal forwarded the papers to the War Office on the 29th January 1898.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThey were conveyed through the usual channels.