§ COLONEL JOHN M. DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed forthwith with the conversion of the rifle with which 540 the Volunteer Force is at present armed; and, if so, what is the alteration proposed?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe conversion is now proceeding, all details having been practically settled. The alteration consists in the conversion of Martini-Henry rifles into small bore rifles to fire the same ammunition as the Lee-Metford rifle, and the trials of the converted rifle have been completely satisfactory.
§ MR. W. E. M. TOMLINSON (Preston)asked if any steps would be taken to provide more ranges?
§ * MR. BRODRICKreplied that this was a large question, and he could not answer it without notice. But his hon. friend would be aware that in 1892 a Bill was passed to enable Volunteer corps to obtain rifle ranges more easily by borrowing public money.