§ MR. O. V. MORGAN (Battersea)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is a fact that an officer of the London Irish Rifles, at his own expense, trained a squad of over 20 men as drivers, and also for the duty of loading the waggons as per Regulations; whether the officer applied through his colonel to the War Office for the loan from the Government of four waggons for three months to perfect the men in the discharge of their duties, such waggons lying idle at the time at Woolwich and elsewhere; and, whether the Government refused the application, and on what grounds?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)An application was received from the London Irish Rifles for the loan for three months of three general service transport waggons and one ambulance waggon. It was considered necessary to refuse the application, for two reasons. First, because if the loan were made to 1827 this corps it could not be refused to others; and as the stock of waggons is only intended to meet Army requirements, it is not desirable to draw upon it for other purposes. Secondly, because a scheme of regimental transport for Volunteers is under trial, an essential feature of which is the providing from local sources of vehicles and horses, assistance being granted by Government in the matter of forage.