§ MR. MANSFIELDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the evidence given at the inquest on the late Captain Charles Douglas M'Kenzie, of the Norfolk Regiment, to the effect that the deceased officer had been worried on account of his not having received his pay from the 654 Imperial Yeomanry; and whether he can take steps to expedite the payment of arrears of pay to officers and men of the Imperial Yeomanry.
§ MR. BRODRICKThis unfortunate officer left his accounts in the hands of his pay-sergeant. These accounts, which were in a state of great confusion, have required considerable time to balance. It became apparent that a large cash credit on which Captain Mackenzie had drawn was non-existent, and two senior officers of the Pay Department went into the matter with him, and explained the position to him, as he had kept no records. No blame whatever attaches to the War Office in the matter, and the confused condition of some of these Yeomanry accounts is the main reason why some of the arrears of pay have not been issued. All possible despatch is being employed.