HC Deb 22 February 1828 vol 18 cc635-6
Sir H. Hardinge

said, that in calling upon the House to vote the Ordnance Estimates for the current year, he had to state, that no new works had been introduced into them. They were precisely such as had been already sanctioned by the House, and he now merely asked for a vote of credit to meet the expenditure of the Ordnance department for the current year. Whenever the report of the Finance Committee should come under the consideration of the House, all the details of this department would be open for investigation and discussion, and the present vote would not pledge any member to a particular line of conduct then. He now moved, "that a sum not exceeding 783,598l. be granted on account of the Ordnance department for the year 1828."

Mr. Hume

did not rise to oppose the vote. If an army of ninety thousand men were to be maintained, he did not see how a further reduction could be effected in the Ordnance. He would reserve to a future period the expression of his sentiments upon this subject.

Mr. Calcraft

said, that for the three or four years during which the duke of Wellington was at the head of this department, he had entered into a minute investigation of its various details, and it was his impression that his grace had made as much reduction in it as the public service would admit of. Now that the noble duke was at the head of all the departments of the state, it was reasonable to conclude that he would enforce a system of economy similar to that which he had established while presiding over the Ordnance.

Sir H. Hardinge

said, that since the year 1820, when the Ordnance department was confided to the duke of Wellington, to the year 1827, when he gave it up, a saving had been effected of no less than 230,000l. Indeed, when other expenses which had been curtailed were taken into consideration, the saving might be stated at 300,000l. a year. It had been effected, not by a diminution of the military expenditure, but principally of the civil establishment. In one instance two hundred and forty clerks had been discharged, and a saving of 147,000l. effected. While this saving was thus produced, he could show that the military works had been increased by about seven hundred men, and that other portions of the department had been rendered more effective than they were in 1820.

The resolutions were agreed to, and the House resumed.