§ Mr. GWYNNEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether by Army Order 493, 1914, rates of pay throughout the Service in the Royal Garrison Artillery were increased, except for district officers, and that by Army Order 197, 1915, district officers were ordered to receive the same rates as officers in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and that subsequently the authorities have ordered that no major district officer can receive the 2s. increase until he has had twenty-four years' commissioned service; and, seeing that district officers have in most cases received commissions from the ranks and in most cases are thirty-five or forty years of age before receiving commissions, and must retire at fifty-five, the Army Order 197, 1915, is rendered void by this ruling, will he inquire into this matter and see that district officers are given the advantage clearly intended?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe whole question was very carefully considered before the Army Order was issued, and I fear the question cannot be reopened.