§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Private B. Kavanagh, E Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, regimental number 6,824 joined his regiment as the result of a recruiting meeting held in New Ross five months ago; whether his father and mother through their solicitor applied for his discharge to his commanding officer at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, on the grounds that he was under eighteen years of age, which was proved by a certificate of his baptism, dated 12th January, 1898, enclosed; can he say if the officer replied; and will he see that the boy, being under age, is discharged?
§ Mr. TENNANTI have no information about this particular case, but a discharge on the ground of age can only be claimed if the man concerned is under seventeen at the time the application is made and is serving at home. In the present case the man is over seventeen.