HC Deb 20 May 1901 vol 94 cc581-2
MR. CAINE (Cornwall, Camborne)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he has yet received any reply to his repeated cable messages to the Cape with regard to the neglect of the authori- ties to advise home particulars of allotted pay by Private W. J. Mankee, No. 25,330 Medical Staff Corps, Base Hospital, Woodstock, and Private Edwin J. Paynter, No. 25,336 C. M. and C, Base Details, Woodstock, and many others.

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

The General Officer Commanding has informed the War Office that the delay was due to the fact that remittance sheets had not been forwarded by the units concerned. I have not received any reply to a further telegram dealing with the special cases mentioned, but the hon. Member must take into consideration the enormous difficulties of communication with the widely scattered units in South Africa. Further I must remind the hon. Member that I told him that any applications to the War Office for assistance would be considered, and that money would be advanced if the woman could produce reliable evidence that it was her husband's intention to remit money. No such applications have been received from the relatives of the men mentioned.

MR. CAINE

What would the noble Lord consider reliable evidence?

LORD STANLEY

When the evidence is produced I will say whether it is reliable.

MR. CAINE

Is the noble Lord aware that in the months of December and January about forty Cornish miners enlisted at Cape Town in non-combatant corps and were induced to do so by the promise that they could allot £4 per month of their pay through the War Office to their wives at home, and that none of the women had received any of the pay although more than six weeks have elapsed since they applied—

LORD STANLEY

I must ask for notice.

MR. CAINE

I will give notice for Thursday, and if the answer is not satisfactory I will make use of the forms of the House to raise the question.