§ 83. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War how many temporary majors there are in the Royal Garrison Artillery and what is their average length of service; and what are the special qualifications held by these temporary majors which entitled them to this rank, in preference to Regular Artillery captains who might otherwise have been thus promoted?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere are forty-seven temporary majors, and their average length of service is over ten years. It is impossible to find all the battery commanders required from among Regular officers and it is necessary to make use of all temporary officers in any capacity for which they may be qualified. They are, of course, only appointed to command batteries after they have been reported as suitable and possessed of the necessary experience.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIn regard to these appointments of temporary majors, by whom are they made?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe Commander-in-Chief has full power to appoint officers of temporary rank.
§ 84. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will say how many batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery there are now at the front previously commanded by majors now commanded by captains; and why these 666 captains, who have successfully commanded batteries, should not be promoted to majors?
§ Mr. FORSTERI cannot say how many batteries are in the position mentioned as the number varies from day to day. The Commander-in-Chief has full power to promote captains to the temporary rank of major to fill vacancies if he considers they are suitable.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs it possible to get a report from the Commander-in-Chief as to promotions in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and is he aware that there is great dissatisfaction in that corps?
§ Mr. FORSTERI should be very reluctant to trouble the Commander-in-Chief at the present moment.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSLater on.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the captains who are doing a major's work receive a major's emoluments?