ORDNANCE ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 11 April 1836)

§ Mr. Hume

said, he was accidentally not present when the Army Estimates were moved, but he should not lose the opportunity of adverting to the subject on the bringing up of the Report, because he thought it of essential importance to know what the Government was doing with regard to that department. The right hon. Gentleman on this side of the House proposed a change last year, in which the noble Lord concurred; and he understood that in consequence of what then took place, a Commission was appointed to inquire into the civil establishment of the Ordnance, with the view, he presumed, of carrying into effect the amalgamation of the Ordnance and engineers with the Commander-in-chief's department. By this arrangement he believed that no less than 300,000l. per annum would be saved to the public. The present was a most wasteful and extravagant system. He wished to know whether that inquiry had made any progress, and whether it was proceeding?

§ Viscount Howick

would repeat what he had stated on a former occasion, viz.—that the inquiry was in progress. It was, however, a subject of great difficulty. When the Commission, of which he had the honour of being a Member, was appointed, they found a scale of some alterations which had been made by a former Commission, of which the right hon. Baronet was a member. Considerable evidence had been gone into on the subject; but much more was necessary. During this sitting of Parliament it was not possible to proceed with the inquiry as rapidly as might be desired; but they were making progress as fast as, under the circumstances, was practicable, and he hoped before the end of the Session to be able to lay the Report of the Commission upon the Table of the House. With reference to that part of the observations of the hon. Gentleman which related to his extravagance, he must express his regret that the hon. Gentleman was not present when his hon. and gallant Friend brought the Ordnance estimates under the consideration of the House. Whenever the hon. Gentleman revived the subject, his hon. and gallant Friend would no doubt be prepared to meet him.