The Government had a little-noticed defeat on Tuesday night. Captain
Jervis, member for Harwich, brought up the grievances of Indian officers of the Line in the shape of a motion for an address to the Crown praying a remedy. The grievances are their liability to supersession by the Staff, which is practically a civil body, the suppression of their retiring funds without compensation, and rules delaying the time at which they obtain colonels' commands. All these grievances were admitted by a Royal Commission specially appointed to inquire into them, but have not been redressed. Sir Charles Wood tried to show that they were mainly due to his wise reductions, but failed, and the motion was carried in a small House by 49 to 36. The more serious effect of Sir Charles Wood's reforms on the military strength of India is discussed in another column.
Previous page
