§ MR. H. H. VIVIANsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, If the Committee on Converting the Enfield Rifles into Breech Loaders had reported; and, if so, whether they had recommended any plan for the adoption of the Government; and whether it be true that an order has been given, or is about to be given, for the conversion of 60,000 rifles on the Mont-Storm principle?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that the Report of the Ordnance Select Committee upon this subject had been received. That Report was not entirely favourable to any of the systems of conversion that had been submitted to the Committee. It was, how ever, possible, that as a temporary measure a certain number of Enfield rifles might be converted upon one of the systems, or a modification of Borne of them. The subject was still under consideration, and therefore it was not true that any order had been given for the conversion of 60,000 rifles upon the Mont-Storm or any other principle. As soon as any decision had been arrived at he would be prepared to state it to the House, and if required, to produce the Report of the Select Committee on the subject.