§ VISCOUNT FOLKESTONEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is the case that, when certain fire-extinguishing apparatus was recently tried at Portsmouth Dockyard, Foster's Chemical Fire Engine Company, whose invention has been highly spoken of by Admirals Sir William Mends and Sir H. Keppel, was not allowed to compete; and, if so, if he would explain the reason why?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, in answer to the noble Lord I have to say that the trial recently made at Portsmouth of fire-extinguishing apparatus was confined to such machines as are capable of being carried about and worked by one man. Foster's machine does not fulfil this condition.