HC Deb 13 July 1882 vol 272 cc273-4
CAPTAIN AYLMER

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, referring to his promise of 4th August 1881, he can now state what arrangements, if any, he has made for providing our Army with corps of mounted Riflemen?

MR. CHILDERS

I presume the hon. and gallant Member was not in the House on the 4th of May, when I answered fully the Question he now puts, which then was put by the hon. Baronet the Member for South Shropshire (Sir Baldwyn Leighton). May I suggest to hon. Members who may wish to ask me Questions of this character that they should first communicate with me privately? The same Question is often proposed to be put three, four, or five times in a Session, and most hon. Members are now good enough to speak to me before placing their Questions on the Paper.

CAPTAIN AYLMER

As I did not hear the answer, would the right hon. Gentleman mind repeating it?

MR. CHILDERS

Yes; I should mind very much, Sir, considering the abuse to which the system of Questions has been carried.

CAPTAIN AYLMER

I trust hon. Members who ask Questions are as good judges of the matter as the right hon. Gentleman.