§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can now state a probable date at which the War Office will decide as to the adoption of a magazine rifle; and, whether he can state how long it would probably take thereafter to have a supply of 100,000 rifles available for service?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The Military Authorities are unanimous in the opinion, in which I concur, that further trials are necessary before a final decision can be arrived at as to the type of magazine rifle to be adopted for our Service. It is, therefore, impossible for me now to name a definite date for this decision. The time that would be occupied in manufacture would also depend to a considerable extent on the type of rifle adopted.