§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it be true that the locks have all been taken off the rifles which are in the armoury for the use of the Volunteers of the Merthyr district, county Glamorgan, South Wales; whether they have been removed out of the county; and, whether he will state by whose orders the locks were removed from the rifles and carried away, if it has been done?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, the General Officer commanding the Western District, acting on his own discretion, but according to the precedent authorized in 1873 by the War Department, ordered the locks to be removed from the rifles of the Merthyr and Dowlais Volunteers, and to be placed in security at a certain distance from the arms.
§ MR. MACDONALDI beg to give Notice that on Tuesday next I will ask the Secretary of State for War on whose representations he gave the orders—
MR. GATHORNE HARDYI gave no orders, Sir; the General commanding the district gave the orders on his own responsibility.