§ COLONEL BARTTELOTasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will postpone the Vote which includes the Martini-Henry Rifle till the House has decided whether a Committee shall be appointed?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, my predecessor appointed a most competent Committee to examine the question what rifle should be adopted. About the time of my accession to office that Committee reported in favour of the Martini-Henry. I referred the Report to the Ordnance Council, and, under their advice, the weapon has been tried by the troops in hot and cold climates, at home and abroad. The Reports from the different regiments have been laid upon the Table of the House, and are eminently satisfactory. I have re-appointed the Committee, under the same Chairman—Colonel Fletcher—with some new members, to consider those Reports, and the final Report of that Committee has been laid upon the Table also. Sufficient inquiry in a matter of so much importance is an excellent thing; but there is a point at which, if the Army is to be armed at all with the improved weapon, inquiry must terminate and 657 action must commence. The present case is, in my opinion, one for decision, and not for further and probable indefinite inquiry.