§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on Saturday last, 9th instant, a boy named Henn, whilst serving in a shop in Tipton, in Staffordshire, was killed by a spent bullet from a rifle range in the vicinity; and whether, taking this fatal accident into account as happening so soon after the gravedigger being killed in the Putney Cemetery by a bullet fired from the Wimbledon rifle range, he will forbid any further rifle shooting in such dangerous localities?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOB WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNEEMAN,&c.) Stirling,The range in question was one belonging to a Volunteer corps, and the very sad accident is attributed to a ricochet bullet from the roof of the marker's hut. Whatever the cause, it is evident that the range is unsafe, and it will not be used again unless so altered that a Board of Officers can pronounce it entirely free from danger. Before a range is sanctioned, every effort is made to ascertain that it is safe, and when it is established that there is danger in using it, shooting is at once forbidden.
§ MR. MACDONAAre the Government prepared to grant compensation in these cases to the relatives of the poor persons who were shot while in the discharge of their duty?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo, Sir. I do not think there is any claim against the Government in this matter, whatever other claim there may be.
§ MR. MACDONAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Queen's Mere, one of the most beautiful parts of Wimbledon Common, on which the local rate payers have spent a great deal of money—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is an entirely separate question, and I must ask the hon. Member to give notice of it in the usual way.