HC Deb 20 February 1917 vol 90 cc1137-8
3. Mr. S. MacNEILL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the Secretary of State for War has been directed to the fact that the duties of military representatives of tribunals are in many cases discharged by gentlemen of military age and physically fit for active service; and whether the propriety of substituting for these-gentlemen in the position of military representatives of tribunals officers returned from the front wounded and with experience and officers over military age will be considered, with a view to the increase and efficiency of the combatant forces of the Crown?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Barnstaple Division of Devon.

Mr. MacNEILL

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some of these gentleman are young men who have never been in the field and who are well paid and laying on others a burden which they have not undertaken themselves, and that some of them are of German origin?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The policy of the Department is to employ officers of over military age or unfit for general service.

Mr. MacNEILL

Would the hon. Gentleman have any objection to giving me a list of names of men who have been employed at this kind of work?

Mr. WATT

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many people consider it most unfair that their cases should be tried by a military representative who is fit and well?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have already stated the policy of the Department now. My hon. Friend must remember that at the very beginning we had to get men wherever we could find them, and that men of legal training were wanted. A number of those are now being replaced.

Mr. PRINGLE

Was it the habit to appoint men of legal training?