§ SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether some Captains of Militia, who volunteered for active service in South Africa with their affiliated line battalions and were seconded accordingly, were subsequently gazetted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Army and received the pay of that rank, while Captains in the same embodied regiments of Militia, who did not volunteer and remained in this country, drew the pay of their rank; whether some other Captains of Militia serving in South Africa, in like circumstances and at the same time, were paid as Captains; whether Captains of Volunteer Companies attached to line battalions received the temporary rank of Captain in the Army and appropriate pay: whether Captains of Militia now serving in South Africa are now ranked and paid accordingly; and, if so, whether the officers who served in the first category may have the same rank and pay made good to them retrospectively.
LORD STANLEYThese Militia Captains sought and obtained employment in certain capacities, and have been granted corresponding rank and pay. It would be very difficult to make any alteration in the direction suggested by my right hon. and gallant friend, and would cause an inequality between these officers and those serving the same rank.