§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the extras paid to a private in the Infantry of the line, beyond his pay of 1s. per day, are not adequate to meet his kit expenses and maintain his mess on a scale equal to that laid down as necessary for health by the Commissioners of Prisons; and whether he will take these facts into account before recommending any increased pay to commissioned officers?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have already explained to the hon. Member precisely what the Infantry private receives under different heads. I have now looked at the scales of diet for prisoners, to which the hon. Member refers, and I am unable to admit the correctness of his suggestion. The diet provided for the soldier is on a much higher scale than that of the prisoner.
§ Mr. CARLILEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the low rate of pay received by officers of line battalions, especially in the junior ranks, he will make arrangements for the supply of the proposed new sash to be worn by the officers of the Line and Territorial Infantry battalions at the lowest cost price of production; and whether it is proposed to put officers shortly to the further expense of purchasing a new head-dress to take the place of that in present use?
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§ Mr. ACLANDThe purchase of articles of uniform from the tailors and outfitters rests entirely with the officers themselves, and I do not propose in any way to interfere with such arrangements as they may think fit to make. As regards a head-dress, there is for the moment no question of officers being called upon to purchase a new one.