§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether any commissions in the Army Service Corps, especially for service in the supply, have been given to men whose applications were only received after 14th August last; whether these commissions have been given over the heads of men whose applications had been sent in considerably before that date, and in some instances as far back as the commencement of the War; and upon what grounds is selection made of candidates, otherwise fit, except on the basis of priority of application?
§ Mr. TENNANTCommissions in the Army Service Corps have in certain cases been granted to candidates who have only recently applied; such candidates have been serving in the ranks or in an Officers' Training Corps, or have special qualifications, and therefore receive prior consideration. Priority of application must not be allowed to override superiority of qualification.
§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether Mr. H. B. Spiller was interviewed at the War Office on 5th November last; whether a letter summarising and inquiring what passed at the interview, and in particular setting out the promise which had been made to him, was received by the Army Service Corps Department from Mr. Spiller; and why, if it is now alleged that no promise was given, did not the reply of the Department, which was sent acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Spiller's letter, contain a denial of the accuracy of the statements contained in the first-mentioned communication?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe letter from Mr. Spiller to which the hon. and learned Gentleman refers was one addressed privately to an official at the War Office and received on the 19th November, after he had already been informed officially on the 9th November that it was not possible to utilise his services in the Army Service Corps. Mr. Spiller's letter contained statements which were inaccurate, but as his application had been declined it was not thought necessary to do more than acknowledge receipt of the letter. Such 625W a bare acknowledgment cannot be held to confirm all the statements contained in the document received.