§ 31. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India, during their investigation into the conditions of service of officers of the Indian Army as to pay and pension, etc., will take up the question of the high cost of housing, the impossibility of keeping a horse on the present allowance, and the inadequacy of travelling and detention allowances, and consider whether some immediate relief might be given by the provision by Government of all chargers with free forage for same; by the grant of free quarters or lodging allowances according to rank; the abolition of mess fund subscriptions and more liberal rules as to travelling and detention allowances?
§ 33. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the statement in the Indian Press 594 that the war bonus is being paid to the non-commissioned officers and men in India at the rate of Is. 4d. the rupee, while officers are being paid at the rate of Is. 6d. to the rupee; and if he can state what is the reason for this differential treatment and why officers are not paid at the same rate as the men?
§ Mr. MONTAGUNon-commissioned officers and men of the British Service are entitled to receive when in India the rupee equivalent of their sterling pay, and when the rupee rose above Is. 4d. it was open to the Government of India, and would have been in accordance with former practice, to reduce their rupee pay pro rata. But they decided to leave the rate undisturbed, and to apply the same rate to the war bonus. The case of officers is different, as their salaries are fixed in rupees without reference to any sterling standard. In issuing their sterling war bonus the appropriate rate seemed naturally that fixed for remittances from this country to India through Government channels. The point, however, has been referred to the Army Council.