§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)In the absence of the hon. Member for the Rye Division of Sussex, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the present scarcity and dearness of horse fodder, be would sanction some increase in the forage allowance made to persons liable to have horses billeted upon them?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.I can only answer as I did on Friday last. The maximum price to be paid for the billet of a horse is fixed by Act of Parliament, and I have no power to go beyond it. On a balance of years it would be found that the innkeepers are far from being losers by billeting, which is a national necessity and amongst the conditions on which they hold their licences.