§ Sir M. BARLOWasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will have inquiry made into the case of Colonel H. B. Moss; whether he is aware that Colonel Moss was re-employed captain and adjutant of a volunteer unit of the Manchester Regiment on the 6th March, 1917; whether he has been refused any gratuity for this period of service owing to a War Office instruction which was issued after his appointment; and, if this is so, whether it is fair to alter to his detriment the apparent terms on which an officer is employed after he has accepted the employment?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThis officer was first appointed on 6th March, 1917, as stated, the terms of the appointment not being then defined. On 23rd May a circular defining terms and explicitly stating that gratuity under Article 497 would not be granted was addressed to all county Volunteer regiments. I can find no record that this officer, whose duty it was, as adjutant, to keep himself closely acquainted with all such matters, made any claim or protest. He accepted confirmation in the appointment in September, 1917, at which time there was no doubt about the terms.