§ MR. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the new valises supplied to the 3rd Bedford Regiment in the autumn of 1885 have been officially reported as unserviceable; whether, by Regulation, these 870 valises should have lasted for 20 trainings, whereas they have only been in wear three trainings; whether, besides being reported unserviceable, the paint has dropped off and ruined the men's coats; and, who is the officer responsible for passing these valises, and the name of the contractor?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The Report of a Board of Officers stating that the valises of the 3rd Bedford Regiment were "not waterproof and therefore unserviceable" was received at the War Office this morning. This is the first Official Report that has been received on this subject. Nothing is said in it about damage to the men's coats. Valises should last the Militia 20 years; but those referred to in this Question were of a new kind, and their issue was of an experimental character. Until some of them have been received and examined I cannot say anything more about them.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONBut who was the contractor?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEHow in the world can my hon. Friend expect me to tell him this until I have read the Report, which was only received this morning? I must have time to examine the Report.