ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, on further inquiry, he has satisfied himself that the naval and military prize competition at Browndown rifle ranges is being carried on under the express patronage and approval of the Naval Commander-in-Chief and of the General commanding the Southern District, and under the management of a Committee of 17 representative Naval and Military Officers, with the Assistant Adjutant General as President; whether such a Committee comes under the official designation as a proper "organisation" for the management of such rifle prize competitions, to which ammunition could be issued free of charge as an encouragement to acquire proficiency in the art of shooting as on former occasions; whether the post of District Inspector of Musketry being abolished at Portsmouth in 1891 was the real cause of the prize meeting not being held last year; whether the shooting has since greatly suffered through inadequate supervision and imperfect instruction of troops, and whether he will consider the advisability of re-appointing an officer to the post, who would then be responsible for ammunition; and whether, seeing there was a balance of ammunition struck off charge in 1891, he will consider it an additional reason for directing free ammunition to be issued now, and in view of 56 the fact that the officers mainly provide the prizes for the good of the service?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have made further inquiry, and find that the facts are as stated in the first paragraph, and that it is usual that such meetings receive free ammunition up to certain limits, the limit in the case of Browndown having been 23,000 rounds. In 1891 the separate District Inspector of Musketry for the Southern District, who had managed the meeting up to that date, was withdrawn, one officer discharging the duties for the Aldershot and Southern Districts; and the General Officer thought it best to wind up the organisation, it being intended that for the future the meeting should be amalgamated with the Aldershot meeting. All surplus funds in 1891 were, therefore, spent in prizes; and in the result there was a large excess of expenditure of ammunition beyond the amount allowed, which became a charge against the public. Last year such men and teams as wished to compete took part in the Army Rifle Meeting at Aldershot. This year the General Officer commanding applied for leave to hold a separate meeting, and this was allowed; but free ammunition was refused, as the excess expenditure of 1891 had not been paid for. It is intended to revive the appointment of District Inspector of Musketry in this district. I am not aware that there has been a falling-off in shooting, and if there had it could hardly be due to the abolition of this officer, who, though the adviser of the General in musketry matters, has no immediate connection with regimental instruction.
ADMIRAL FIELDThen the officers who spend their money liberally on prizes in order to encourage their own men are to be penalised and made to pay for the ammunition expended by the soldiers?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have said there are a great many such meetings, and the rules as to free ammunition are well understood. In the case of this meeting there was a very large over-expenditure of ammunition with a consequent heavy charge on the public, and for that reason the issue of free ammunition was refused this year.