§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, with reference to the statement reported to have been made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that "the financial balance sheet of the Transvaal did not include a single farthing for military expenses," it is not the fact that the Account of Revenue and Expenditure for the Transvaal for the years 1879 and 1880 (Blue Book 2950, page 73), includes an expenditure of £17,232 during these years for Colonial defence; and, whether he will cause a Statement to be published and laid upon the Table of the House, showing how this and other items of expenditure for Colonial defence are composed?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he was given to understand by his noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Question was due to an incomplete report of the speech of his noble Friend. It appeared that the expenditure for Colonial defence was for outlays for Native Contingents and Native Police. The mention of military expenses referred to the cost of the military establishment in the Transvaal; and that, previous to the Boer outrage, amounted to many hundred thousands of pounds, though the precise amount could not be stated at present. Such a statement might hereafter be given, if it were thought desirable; but, to prevent misapprehension, the Secretary of State for the Colonies wished it to be understood that he alluded to the successful expedition against Secocoeni, which took place previous to the time the hon. Member had in view, and which cost £383,000. It was paid for by the Imperial Treasury, and a part of the cost of previous unsuccessful operations, amounting to about £110,000, was defrayed out of the local funds.