§ MR. SEAGER HUNT (Marylebone, W.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Military authorities have decided that the reorganization of the Royal Artillery as regards its distribution into separate branches of Horse, Field, and Garrison, is not a suitable subject for the prize essay of the Royal Artillery Institution; whether on two or three occasions they have not allowed it to be the subject when proposed; whether the Military authorities can give any satisfactory reason for this; and, whether he will take steps to cause the Military authorities to reconsider their decision, and give them instructions to afford every facility for the free discussion of this subject?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. WOODALL) (Hanley)(in the absence of the Secretary of State): I must remind the hon. Member that, unlike the Royal United Service Insti- 247 tution, the Royal Artillery Institution is altogether regimental in its character and formation. As such it is not considered desirable that questions should be discussed which might give rise to criticism on points of existing military organization; and as the subjects for the prize essay are always submitted for approval that approval was withheld when the subject in question was brought forward.