Major BARINGasked why a proportion of commissions from the ranks is not attainable by men of the armament artificer section of the Army Ordnance Corps?
§ Colonel SEELYThis question has been very fully considered. It is held that the armament artificers would not be capable of attaining to the high qualification required for an inspector of ordnance machinery. It is regretted, therefore, that it has not been found practicable to adopt the proposal made in the question.
Major BARINGasked whether inspectorships of Army ordnance machinery are held by warrant officers of the armament section, Army Ordnance Corps, in several stations abroad, while the same duties at home are allotted to commissioned officers; and whether he can see his way to granting a proportion of commissions to warrant officers who are considered competent to discharge duties similar to those of commissioned officers?
§ Colonel SEELYI am informed that in no case are inspectorships held by armament artificers at stations abroad. At Sierra Leone, where the armament is not important enough to require the inspection of an inspector the repairs are carried out by the armament artificer under the chief ordnance officer.
Major BARINGWould it not be possible to allot commissions to some of this class of warrant officers. They are the only warrant officers in the Army who cannot rise?
§ Colonel SEELYI said in reply to a previous question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman that we regret we cannot make this concession, and I do not see that we can, at any rate at present.