§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he will undertake not to enter into any definite arrangement for granting any right of user over any Crown Lands for the purpose of the requirements of the National Rifle Association, or any other private Association, until an opportunity has been afforded for discussing the principle of such concessions; and, whether he will be prepared to state the views of Her Majesty's Government, when the subject is raised during the discussion on the Army Estimates?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)In answer to the first part of the Question, I cannot give the desired undertaking. In reply to the second part of the Question, the House will have a full opportunity of expressing its opinion on the Vote for the Army.
§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNEasked, what difference the right hon. Gentleman made between granting user of Crown Land and granting money to a private Association?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI draw the greatest possible distinction, and am surprised that the hon. Gentleman does not see it himself.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that rights are to be granted over national property under the term of user to a private Association without Parliament having an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEI am at a loss to see why the War Office should not grant rights of shooting over Crown Lands at Aldershot, just as it does over Crown Lands in other parts of the country.