§ COLONEL WALRONDasked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, Whether it is a fact that there are at present 250,000 Martini Rifles in store; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government could not at once issue 200,000 to the Volunteers, the Commanding Officers of Volunteer Battalions undertaking to return them to store within a week of their being called in?
§ MR. BRANDThere are at present 250,000 Martini-Henry rifles in store. This is somewhat below the ordinary reserve, it not having been thought desirable to manufacture any large number of rifles in view of the possible alteration of the arm. The Government cannot undertake to issue 200,000 Mar- 876 tini-Henry riffes on loan to the Volunteers.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked, when would the improved arm be ready?
§ MR. BRANDsaid, that he had used the word "possible," in contradistinction to "probable." The change had not yet been decided on by the Secretary of State for War.