MR. C. E. SHAWI beg, to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that officers of embodied Militia regiments in the Western District are; restricted to obtaining leave of absence; for a few days only at a time, no matter how urgent their reasons may be for obtaining such leave; and whether, in view of the fact that many of these officers are-dependent upon a business or profession, instructions can be given for some further indulgence in the matter of leave being granted, provided such indulgence does not interfere with military efficiency.
MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)Instructions were; issued to all general officers commanding on the 14th March that Militia officers were to be granted shore periods of leave when possible for the purpose of attending to their private affairs, but the Service must have the first call on their time, and it is desirable to interfere as little as possible with the discretion left to general officers.