§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state who any experiments have been made with the object of comparing the results of firing cartridges made up of cordite and black powder respectively on the barrel of the Lee-Metford magazine rifle?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN, Stirling, &c.)As I informed the hon. Member on May 12, 1893, no experiments have been made with the direct object of comparing the results of firing cartridges made up of cordite and black powder respectively on the barrel of the Lee- Metford rifle. Nor are such experiments considered to be necessary, inasmuch as the preference for cordite is founded upon other considerations than the comparative wear of the barrel; and it is known that the advantages of the use of cordite involve a shorter life of the barrel.