HL Deb 03 July 1876 vol 230 cc847-8
THE EARL OF SANDWICH

asked the Under Secretary for War, What allowances will be given to an officer of Militia called up to undertake the duties of an Adjutant and Paymaster while that office was vacant? The noble Earl complained that he could obtain no allowance for the gentleman whom, under the circumstances stated in the Question, he had some short time since appointed to discharge the duties of paymaster of his regiment.

VISCOUNT ENFIELD

said, that about two years ago a like circumstance had happened in his own regiment. He thought a commanding officer should be simply bound to train his men, and not also to act, as he was now required to do in certain cases, as Paymaster.

EARL CADOGAN

regretted that his noble Friend should have to complain of the War Office, but the Regulations relating to his Question were that during the interval of retirement of an adjutant and the appointment of his successor the quartermaster acted as adjutant under the responsibility of an officer in command, and received 5s. a-day extra pay; but in case of regiments which had no quartermaster, the rule was to require the officer in command to act as paymaster, but no pay was attached. The injustice had been felt, and it was under contemplation to make a rule that the paymasters of the Brigade Depôts should also act as paymasters of Militia regiments.