§ 54. Mr. HOGGEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the disability laid upon candidates for commissions from the ranks who have received their commanding officers' permission to apply, inasmuch as other commanding officers refuse to take them as officers; and whether the War Office will take steps to prevent this disability being continued?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not clear as to the class of case to which my hon. Friend refers, and if he will furnish me with particulars of any specific case I shall be glad to inquire into it. So far as temporary commissions are concerned, no such disability as he suggests exists. In the case of commissions in the Special Reserve, it has always been the rule for commanding officers to recommend candidates for their own battalions, and this rule also applies to locally raised battalions.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that we all get so many letters from men who have applied for commissions stating that the colonel will not sign the application?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, I cannot.