§ 5. Mr. SUTHERLANDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether in various regimental messes at home it is the practice to hold frequent guest 886 nights, the cost of which has to be borne by all the officers of the regiment; and whether, in view of the hardship to junior officers, whose pay is quite inadequate to meet such charges and who may be total abstainers, he will consider the desirability during the War of discontinuing such guest nights, and, in any case, of each officer being made responsible only for his own wine bill?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am aware that an occasional guest night has been a practice much appreciated by guest or guests and thought necessary by the officers of battalions stationed in certain parts of this country. I understand that these guest nights are not frequent, and I cannot see my way to interfere with the practice of regimental hospitality, particularly as most commanding officers are now alive to the fact that it is now necessary to have moderation in the number of guest nights and in the fare, liquid and solid, provided.
§ Mr. WATTCould not the hon. Gentleman's Department see that these guest nights are arranged on temperance principles, seeing that the views of the country generally are so pronounced at the present time?