§ 38. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that men wounded in former wars may now receive the same concessions in respect to military service, 1454 and the same rates, of pension as men wounded in the present War, he will also grant them the gold stripe, as given to men who have been wounded since 4th August, 1914?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)The wound distinction was introduced to meet the peculiar circumstances connected with the present War, and it is not proposed to extend the conditions of award so as to include men wounded in previous wars.
§ Colonel ASHLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what are the peculiar circumstances of this war, and why men wounded in the South African and former wars should not be given the gold stripe as well as the men wounded in this War?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis War is a very prolonged one, and it was thought at one time in the House that there was a great distinction between the man serving at home and the man who has come home wounded after serving abroad in this War.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWhy should not men who have been wounded in former wars have a like distinction?
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERQuestions should not be made the subject of debate. It precludes the later questions from being asked.
§ Colonel ASHLEYThis is my third question.