LORD HENRY LENNOXasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that several of the new six-inch guns, forming the first instalment of breech-loading guns for the Royal Navy, have been, on trial, found defective; and, whether it is possible to take effectual precautions against the recurrence of such failures?
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any truth in the report that several of the heavy six-inch breech-loading guns supplied for the Royal Navy by contract have broken down under proof trial, whilst those supplied by the Royal Gun Factories at Woolwich have in no instance failed; and, if so, whether it is in contemplation to limit, as far as possible, the manufacture of guns by contract?
§ MR. CHILDERSSir, in reply to the two Questions put to me by the two noble Lords, I have to state that it is not the case that any of the Navy six-inch breech-loading guns supplied for the Navy by contract have broken down. The first instalment of these guns, 14 in number, have passed proof, and have been received into the service. In the second instalment, there were a few which exhibited external defects, but 183 none of an unusual character, or likely to involve their rejection. These defects sometimes occur in guns made at Woolwich. The worst case of defect has been already remedied, and the gun has been re-proved satisfactorily. I see no reason to make any change in the policy of obtaining some of these guns by contract.