§ MR. BOWERMAN (Deptford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he has been furnished with a report from the General Officer Commanding-in- 920 Chief concerning the statement that recruiting for the Scottish Horse is left in the hands of the troopers, who can object to and prevent the recruiting of any individual on account of social inequality; and whether such report corroborates the complaint recently made that a young fellow who desired to join the regiment was rejected on the ground that he was badly dressed, and was not in the habit of wearing a collar and tie.
§ MR. HALDANEI have made inquiries into this matter. The result is to show that in the opinion not only of the recruiting officer, but of the men in the regiment, the candidate in question was not suitable to be recruited, and he was consequently rejected in accordance with paragraph 196 of the Recruiting Regulations.
§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSON (Lanarkshire, N.W.)Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to the effect that this recruit had been twice previously convicted before a magistrate? Who was the officer responsible for his rejection?
§ MR. HALDANEI have no information.