HC Deb 18 April 1901 vol 92 cc600-1
MR. CAINE (Cornwall, Camborne)

I wish to ask the Secretary for War if his attention has been called to the complaints of a number of women throughout the country, and especially in Cornwall, to the effect that their husbands having formed local corps in South Africa some months ago, and having made arrangements on enlisting for a portion of their pay to be remitted home, they have never received any remittance, and are consequently in a state of extreme poverty. May I further ask what action has or will be taken by the War Office to redress this grievance. I may explain that I gave notice of this question during the holidays, but by some inadvertence it does not appear on the printed list.

* MR. SPEAKER

There has been no inadvertence. The notice was given after the Orders of the Day had been printed.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY, Lancashire, Westhoughton)

I believe a letter has been sent to the hon. Member asking him to postpone the question. We have cabled to South Africa for particulars, and at the present moment the only information we have is from the men themselves in the letters they have written home to their wives, stating that they have remitted home.

MR. CAINE

Will the noble Lord cable again?

LORD STANLEY

We have already cabled twice.