§ MR. MILDMAY (Devon, Totnes)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, seeing that the Queen's 581 Plates (professedly granted to encourage the breeding of horses in this country), in view of the poor contests they have provoked of late years, entirely fail of their object, he will consider the advisability of applying the sums voted for this purpose in some way which shall more effectively carry out the original object for which the Queen's Plates were granted?
§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)I rise to Order. I wish to ask your ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether this Question is not of an argumentative character? Does it not assume a point which has been very frequently argued in this House?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Question certainly does assume that Queen's Plates have entirely failed of their object. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman objects to it, that may be omitted from the Question, and the remainder may be asked.
§ COLONEL NOLANI object to it in that form.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELL (A LORD of the TREASURY) (Wigton)(who replied) said: Without entering upon the argumentative part of the Question, I may be allowed to inform the hon. Gentleman that we are making inquiries into this matter, and it will be referred to the consideration of the proper authorities.