§ MR. O'DOHERTYTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that civilian surgeons attached to the Army in South Africa are not eligible for the Customs rebate in accordance with a circular Memorandum No. 30, dated 4th July, 1904, and issued by the Chief Staff Officer, South Africa; and whether, seeing that nursing sisters and school mistresses attached to the Army participate in the rebate, he will see that civilian surgeons are placed on an equal footing with other civilians attached to the Army.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) I am aware of the circular referred to. The whole question of the Customs rebate was settled by a conference of Customs officers of the several South African Colonies. It was decided that civil surgeons are ineligible to receive this rebate, and the Army Council is not, therefore, in a position to alter this decision.