§ Sir C. YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Esher Committee, in paragraph 14 (3), Part V, Section 1, of their Report, recommended that the Government should provide an Indian groom for each authorised charger, such grooms to be enlisted soldiers paid, rationed, and clothed by Government; that so far nothing has been done by Government to enlist these grooms, and that only an allowance of 15 rupees a month has been granted for the pay of civilian grooms, while in places like Quetta 20 rupees a month is the minimum rate of pay for a groom, and warm clothing and blankets have to be supplied in addition, and not being enlisted men these private grooms would probably refuse to go on service; and what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?
§ Mr. MONTAGUA syce allowance of Rs. 15 per mensem was granted in lieu of the Esher Committee's proposal that an enlisted groom should be provided for each horse, which was considered to be neither necessary nor desirable. I presume that the allowance was fixed as a fair average equivalent for wages. The rules provide for the repurchase of the horses by Government when mobilisation takes place, and it follows that Government will arrange for the care of their own property.