§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a certificate of proficiency in shorthand in the Army is only granted to officers in possession of a Pitman certificate or a certificate of the Society of Arts; whether he is aware that a Pitman speed certificate is awarded for a test of five minutes' duration as against a test of seven minutes' duration imposed by the Society of Arts; whether lie is aware that the percentage of errors allowed to pass for the Pitman certificate is much greater than that allowed by the Society of Arts; whether he is aware that the Scottish Phonographic Association, the largest shorthand association in the United Kingdom, has now refused to recognise the Pitman certificate; and whether he will consider the advisability of some change in the regulations in regard to shorthand?
§ Colonel SEELYAn officer in possession of either the Pitman certificate or the certificate of the Society of Arts is recorded as proficent in Shorthand. I am informed that in some quarters the certificate of the Society of Arts is considered superior to the Pitman certificate, but so far as Army officers are concerned, either certificate is considered sufficient. Accordingly no change in the regulations is regarded as necessary.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state what is the approximate percentage of soldiers who try to learn Pitman's shorthand, but fail to obtain a certificate of proficiency; whether he is aware that simpler systems exist; and whether lie will consider the advisability of leaving the system to be learned to the choice of the individual, and of making the certificate of the Society of Arts alone recognised in the Army?
§ Colonel SEELYThe percentage of failures amongst those who are known to have presented themselves for examina-1804W tion during the last four years was 30 per cent. Some systems claim to be simpler than the Pitman, but I am informed that the Pitman is the most popular system. The system to be learned is left to the choice of the soldier and the certificate of the Society of Arts is alone recognised by the regulations for the soldier. In the Army schools it is essential that only one system should be taught in order to secure uniformity, and accordingly the Pitman system, as being the most popular, has been adopted.