§ 26. Mr. S. MacNEILLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the attention of the War Office 896 authorities has been directed to the fact that temporary military chaplains on service at the various war fronts on promotion live at headquarters, where the necessary expenses are threefold in excess of the expenses of living with a regiment or ambulance, but that such Army chaplains receive no allowance corresponding with their work; and whether, having regard to the fact that these clergymen have in many cases cheerfully resigned good positions at home to fulfil their duty to their country in time of war, steps will be taken to place them in the same position with reference to allowances as other temporary officers?
§ Mr. FORSTERI presume the hon. and learned Gentleman has in mind certain cases where a step of rank has been granted to chaplains to enable them to exercise administrative supervision over other chaplains, but where the extent of the charge entrusted to them is not sufficient (in the opinion of the authorities and those representatives of the various Churches who advise them) to justify any other than honorary rank. In all cases chaplains draw the allowances of their substantive or temporary rank under the same conditions as other officers.
§ Mr. MacNEILLHave not these gentlemen to pay threefold expenses for this honorary rank, and is the hon. Gentleman not aware that he ought not to rob the Church?