§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask' the Under -Secretary of State for War to what extent the new messing regulations (contained in Army Order 65, May 1, 1898) benefits sergeants having service between twelve and twenty-one years; whether these non-commissioned officers had to give up 2d. per day in order to obtain 3d., and what amount of deferred pay have these officers to their 582 credit; and what are the rates paid respectively for mess by privates and sergeants.
* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSThe sergeants benefit to the extent of 1d. a day. The deferred pay to their credit is the amount that has accrued to the date on which they in each case elected to draw the messing allowance. Approximately, the private pays 3d. and the sergeant from 6d. to 7½d. for messing.