§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Major D. Paton, Headquarters No. 8 District, Exeter, gave instructions to the recruiting officers under him to agree to pay to doctors undertaking the examination of recruits in November and December last 2s. 6d. per examination; that such recruiting officers thereupon verbally and in two cases in writing agreed with large numbers of doctors to pay them this fee, and on the strength of the undertaking secured the services of these doctors; that thereafter, when the examination of recruits had been made, the same recruiting officers were instructed by Major Paton to write the doctors informing them that in promising the payment of 2s. 6d. per recruit they had exceeded their duty, and the agreed payment would therefore not be made, and offering payment on a lower scale; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am having inquiry made.