§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether it is true, as reported from Devonport, that the sword-bayonets supplied to a newly commissioned ship are utterly unfit for use, as when placed across the knee they are easily bent in two or three places; whether, besides, the Indus, the Mariner, Racer, and Icarus have been supplied with weapons of the same description; whether the Mariner is now actually employed in Burmah, and the Racer and Icarus on the West Coast of Africa; if he would state who supplied these bayonets; whose duty was it to test these bayonets; what, if any, system is adopted for the inspection of swords and other articles, and a comparison of the deliveries with the original specifications and samples upon which the contracts are based; and, whether in such eases any penalty in addition to dismissal can be imposed under existing regulations upon careless or incompetent officials?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (MR. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)The cutlasses and cutlass sword-bayonets supplied to Her Majesty's ships are in accordance with the sealed pattern approved by the Director of Naval Ordnance in 1871, after reference to the captain of Her Majesty's ship Excellent at Portsmouth. The latter officer reported that the new weapon was suitable for the Martini-Henri rifle, for the then sword exercises, and that it was a more efficient weapon than the old cutlass. The weapons lately complained of have been rendered unfit for use by subjection to a treatment they never could have undergone in actual warfare. The present naval sword-bayonets were originally supplied by 754 contract; and, on the introduction of the Martini-Henry rifle, were altered at the Enfield Small Arms Factory to meet the views of the Naval Authorities—all so altered being tested so as to comply with the sealed pattern. The tests were on the responsibility of the Superintendent of the Small Arms Factory, who in all deliveries is responsible that the supply is equal to the specification and sample. All cutlasses and cutlass sword-bayonets are in course of being re-tested, and are now being subjected to a more severe test than was considered necessary at the time of the approval of the present pattern in 1871. As the pattern has been complained of, the subject comes within the reference of the Royal Commission now sitting on the Patterns of Ordnance Stores, and the complaint will be submitted to them. The cutlasses have been in use since 1874; and when in March, 1884, Sir Gerald Graham was instructed to report on the complaints that had been published in the public Press of defective cutlasses and bayonets in use in Egypt; he replied that no reports had been received relative to cutlasses.
§ MR. HANBURYWho is the person actually responsible for the supply of these bayonets to these vessels?
§ MR. NORTHCOTEThe responsibility, I presume, would be that of the head of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield; but he would be supplying bayonets which had been proved to be in accordance with the sealed pattern; and I do not see that the present Superintendent could be held responsible, he not having been in that position in 1871.
§ MR. HANBURYgave notice that, in consequence of the answer of the Surveyor General of Ordnance, he would take an early opportunity of calling attention to the defective system of administration in the Ordnance Department, under which it was a common occurrence for bad and inefficient weapons to be issued to Her Majesty's Naval and Military Forces.