§ 58. Mr. CROOKSasked whether there is any prospect of promotion for the senior non-commissioned officers of the Army Pay Corps who have been superseded for warrant rank owing to age and yet have been strongly recommended for promotion to commissioned rank; and, if not, whether he will state why these men have not been taken into consideration for quarter-mastership in the New Army, as has been the case in all other corps and departments in the Army?
Mr. BAKERThe warrant officers, of whom there are a large number with adequate qualifications, have a prior claim to any promotions to commissioned rank which can be offered. These men have been taken into consideration in many cases for the appointment of quartermaster in the New Army, but for the few appointments available others have been found to possess better qualifications.
§ 59. Mr. CROOKSasked why non-commissioned officers of the Army Pay Corps who have been recommended for commissions as assistant paymasters have been superseded for promotion by the introduction of civilians as acting paymasters; whether he is aware that the civilians introduced have to be instructed in their work by the men they have superseded, and the work is therefore delayed; will he state what military status these acting paymasters have; and will he also state the reason for issuing to paymasters War Office Letter Accounts 2, dated 7th September, if it was considered that these acting paymasters were suitable and adaptable to the posts?
Mr. BAKERThe number of commissioned officers in the Army Pay Department is regulated by the permanent needs of the Army, and is being maintained at its due strength by promotion of non-commissioned officers and otherwise in the usual way. Non-commissioned officers of the Army Pay Corps have not been superseded for promotion by the introduction of civilians, who enter on a purely temporary footing and have no military status. The civilians appointed acting paymasters are instructed in their duties by the paymasters and not by non-commissioned officers. The object of the War Office letter referred to was to secure that these highly suitable gentlemen should be rapidly adapted to the duties of the posts by proper instruction.
§ Mr. J. WARDIs it not a fact that nearly 3,000 applications for commissions had been made by officers before the War and only some 400 have so far been granted?