§ COLONEL SYKESrose to ask the Under Secretary for War whether, as a grave expense is being incurred by the Governments of England and India in the supply of the Enfield rifle, and considering the prospect of its supercession by the superior arm, the Whitworth rifle, it is intended to continue the manufacture of the former; and, in case the Government consider further experiments necessary with the Whitworth rifle before they decide upon its adoption, to state when they will renew those experiments.
§ SIR JOHN RAMSDENstated that the superiority of the Whitworth rifle had not yet been sufficiently established to justify the Government in discontinuing the manufacture of the Enfield rifle for the supply of the army. Experiments had been made which were not unfavourable to Mr. Whit- 309 worth's invention; but these experiments were still incomplete. Further experiments had been ordered, and would take place as soon as arrangements could be made for that purpose. He was informed that if it should be found desirable to substitute the Whitworth for the Enfield rifle it would be possible, without any great expense, to alter the machinery now in operation at Enfield so as to render it available for the manufacture of the Whitworth arm.