STAFF CORPS AND INDIAN ARMY 263 



zealous manner in which the work of the Committee was carried 

 out by their excellent Secretary, Mr W. Allison, Barrister-at-Law, 

 from the time the movement was set on foot. In the first place, 

 Mr Allison had to make himself acquainted with the numerous 

 Rules and Regulations issued at different times through a long 

 series of years relative to the Pensions and Retirement of Officers 

 of the Indian Military Service, as well as the Furlough and Leave 

 Rules, which had undergone so many alterations from time to 

 time. This of itself was a heavy task, involving a considerable 

 amount of research and reading up, and how completely Mr 

 Allison had mastered those subjects was evidenced by the many 

 letters and articles written by him and published in some of the 

 leading London journals, and also in the Indian newspapers, in 

 which he showed most clearly and convincingly the absolute 

 necessity for an increase in the scale of retiring Pensions and for a 

 longer period of Furlough and Leave being allowed to count as 

 service for Pensions. It was intended that all Officers concerned 

 in the matter should individually petition Parliament on the 

 subject, and to enable every Officer to frame his own Petition 

 correctly, in accordance with his standing and position in the 

 service, Mr Allison drew up and issued detailed instructions for 

 guidance in every case, and though the promulgation of a revised 

 scale of Pensions put a stop to the submission of these Petitions, 

 Mr Allison was not less entitled to the credit of having framed such 

 clear and comprehensive instructions for their preparation. 



As Chairman of the Committee I have been in more frequent 

 communication with the Secretary, both personally and by letter, 

 than any of my colleagues, and nothing could exceed the willing 

 and prompt attention bestowed by him at all times upon any 

 suggestions that were brought under consideration, so that 

 business was always discussed and disposed of most harmoniously, 

 and I can say without hesitation that no Committee, associated 

 as we have been, could have had the assistance of a better qualified 

 or more accomplished Secretary than Mr Allison has been to us. 

 And as I am of opinion that whatever benefit has resulted from 

 the movement is mainly due to the exertions of Mr Allison and 

 the ability with which he advocated the cause, I consider that not 

 only the Committee, but also the Officers of the Service generally, 

 owe him a debt of gratitude, and I hope he may have many 

 opportunities of proving his fitness for similar employment. 

 Y. J. R. SPENCE, Lt. -General. 



Chairman of the Committee. 



I received a testimonial of a substantial sort, and had 

 finished the book, Blair Athol, before the date of General 



