§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that at the beginning of January, 1919, Sergeant Mackay, of the Indian Army, received permission (reference M. O. 4233/2) to marry Miss Annie M'Kenzie, Stevenson's Cottage, Feus Road, Perth; whether official arrangements were made for the lady to proceed to India; whether the India Office and the War Office postponed her departure: whether she was informed by the local record office to be in readiness to sail at the beginning of November, 1919; whether there was a further postponement till February, 1920; whether there has been a further delay with an intimation that no date for sailing can now be fixed; whether, in the course of correspondence which has passed, the lady's father has alternately been advised by the India Office to write to the War Office and by the War Office to write to the India Office; whether he is aware that in November, 1919, Miss M'Kenzie gave up her employment, received presentations from her employers and friends, and packed her boxes for departure; that the lady's fiancé having been officially informed that she would proceed to India in October, 1919, regards the delay as the fault of the lady; and whether he will take immediate steps to remove all obstacles for her journey to India and so prevent further disappointment and misunderstanding in a matter of supreme importance to those immediately concerned?
65W
§ Mr. FISHEROwing to the shipping situation there has been for the past six months very great difficulty in securing passages to India. Miss McKenzie's first application for passage reached the India Office towards the end of September, 1919. It was not until the end of January, 1920, that any prospect offered of securing a berth for her. One was reserved for her on a vessel due to sail about the end of February. Unfortunately, the need for repairs will delay the ship's departure till the end of March, at least. No other accommodation is available, but a berth on the ship is being kept for Miss McKenzie. The misunderstanding between the War Office and the India Office was due to uncertainly as to whether Sergeant Mackay had been transferred from a British regiment to the India Unattached List. But this had no effect on the date of Miss McKenzie's sailing. The Secretary of State regrets the delay in providing passage for Miss McKenzie, which was due to shipping difficulties and was quite beyond his control.