§ MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to recommend to the House a scale of payment for junior officers in the Army under which such junior officers would receive an increase of pay, and a slight decrease of pay when they reach higher ranks, and thus enable the sons of poor persons an opportunity of entering the Army.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI am not prepared at the present time to recommend any increase in the pay of junior officers. The matter is one which affects both the Navy and the Army, but I consider it to he of great importance that both the rate of pay and the scale of living should be such as to enable officers of small means to continue in the service. I cannot admit that the pay of officers in the higher ranks is excessive.