SIR JOHN HAYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is still his intention to demand of the War Office a thirty-five ton Whitworth Gun for the use of the Navy, or whether the War Office has satisfied him of the inexpediency of incurring this expenditure?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, the state of the case is as follows:—My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War and I agreed, after consulting our responsible advisers, that Messrs. Whitworth should be called upon to tender for a 35-ton naval gun, and this tender has been under the consideration of the Ordnance Council. I have not yet received full official information of the proceedings of the Council, portions of which are not yet printed; but I am aware of the general view they have taken, and when the Papers are complete my right hon. Friend and I will consider with our advisers what course in the matter we shall adopt.