§ MR. WHITWELLasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the £400,000 named in his answer to a Question on the 9th August last as included in the Supplementary Estimate, 1839 and which he stated to be sufficient for the Kaffir War, was found to be sufficient, or whether any additional expenses arising for that War have to be covered by the proposed Supplementary Vote of £1,500,000; and, as the Appropriation Accounts for the Army Expenses have not been circulated, what have been the War Expenses in South Africa during the three years past and the current year up to the 31st March next, inclusive of the proposed Supplementary Vote of £1,500,000?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe statement which I made in August had reference to two distinct matters. They were the expenses incurred in the Kaffir War, or what we may call the "Transkei" War, previous to the 31st of March, 1878, and the expenses incurred and estimated for the remainder of the year—that is, for the year 1878–9. With regard to the expenses incurred previous to the 31st of March, 1878, it was impossible to get them in time for the Statement at the beginning of the financial year. We had, however, reason to believe that they would amount to something like £400,000; and I warned the House that it was probable that an excess Estimate for that amount for the expenditure of the year 1877–8 might have to be provided for. We have, however, since found, on the appropriation of the accounts of the Army, that the saving on other Votes has been sufficient to cover the whole of that amount; and, therefore, no further money will be asked from Parliament in respect of that charge. I should say that we have not been able to include in the appropriation accounts the month of March, 1878; and there may be a balance of something like £60,000 or £70,000 to be carried to the next financial year's accounts. Then, with regard to the Supplementary Estimates I presented to the House in August, amounting to some £300,000 or £400,000 for the Transkei War, they related to the expenditure subsequent to the 31st of March, and I have every reason to believe that that sum is sufficient. No part of it is intended to be charged on the Supplementary Vote of £1,500,000, which has reference only to the Zulu War. With regard to the last part of the Question, I shall have a Statement to make giving the information the hon. Gentleman asks.