§ 92. Mr. NIELDasked in whose charge has the 14th Battalion of the Essex Regiment been since it was raised; what is the name and rank of this officer; what was the date of his first commission and the rank conferred; what were the special reasons for the appointment; and what period of time is considered not excessive during which to complete the appointment of officers to new battalions urgently required for service in a war such as the present?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not think it is desirable to canvass the service and other qualifications of officers to whom commands are given by question and answer in this House. If I lent myself to such practice, the present formidable list of questions daily addressed to me would quickly be doubled or trebled. As regards the last part of the question, the period which I should consider not excessive would be the period sufficient to select suitable officers in numbers suitable to the number of recruits accruing to the unit. I am afraid I cannot state the period in terms mathematically more precise.