§ 124. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether, on vacancies occurring in the rank of major in heavy artillery batteries, temporary captains are being appointed instead of promoting the Regular captains of the Royal Garrison Artillery; and whether there are, in fact, about 200 captains of eleven years' service in the Royal Garrison Artillery over whose heads junior officers have been promoted majors?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhen vacancies occur for majors in heavy batteries, the best available officer is promoted, whether temporary or Regular. There are about 200 Royal Garrison Artillery Regular captains with eleven years' service, and at the present time the promotion to major takes about fourteen and a half years.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that none of those 200 captains of eleven years' service are fit for promotion?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not make any suggestion. I only say that when you have a large pool from which to draw it is quite possible that there may be 200 who are not so fit as the others.