§ "That a sum, not exceeding £1,638,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Charge for Retired Pay, Half-Pay, and other Non-Effective Charges for Officers, etc., which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March. 1904."
§ MR. WHITLEY said that when the Vote was in Committee he raised a point with reference to the rewards for meritorious services which appeared in the Vote. The right hon. Gentleman said on that occasion that he had made an alteration in the system of distributing the rewards, and that, whereas they had hitherto been given to officers on full pay, and had ceased when officers retired, in future they would not come into operation until an officer had retired, and they would continue as long as he lived. What he wished to know was, whether officers who obtained rewards under the old system would in future be able to retain them when on retired pay. He rather gathered from what the noble Lord had said that some officers would have it both ways.
§ MR. COURTENAY WARNER asked how it was that when the Army was demobilised after the war the number of general officers on half-pay, instead of being increased, was reduced. The right hon. Gentleman said that the reason was that officers had not been put on half-pay, but on retired pay. He found, however, that the number of general officers on retired pay had also decreased: and he could 1171 not quite understand the matter. The only explanation was that more general officers remained on full pay, but he understood from the right hon. Gentleman that that was not correct.
§ *MR. BRODRICK said that there were more officers on full pay owing to the forces in South Africa. The number of officers on retired pay was annually decreasing.
§ CAPTAIN NORTON said he should like an explanation as to why certain officers in the Indian Army were included in this Vote.
§ *MR. BRODRICK said if the hon. Gentleman would put down a Question, he would explain the matter to him.