HC Deb 23 May 1895 vol 34 cc115-6
MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the usual custom of billeting has been departed from in Newcastle West, County Limerick, regarding the O Battery of Artillery, viz., men and horses distributed proportion ately among the licensed vintners, and that 65 out of 85 horses have been placed with a Mr. Dawson, Petty Sessions clerk whose stables considerably exceed the distance allowed by the Regulations; and whether, as the allowance given by the Military Authorities merely covers the outlay incurred by vintners when men and horses are billeted on a licensed premises (the allowance for billeting of men alone being insufficient) he will order that no departure from previous practice be sanctioned?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Under the provisions of the Army Act the allotment of billets is entirely in the hands of the local Police Authority, subject to the control of the local Justices or Court of Summary Jurisdiction, to whom persons aggrieved at the manner in which billeting may be carried out are instructed by the Act to appeal.

DR. ROBERT AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)

I wish to ask is it a proper course to take for the Resident Magistrate of the district and for the Petty Sessions Clerk to canvass the officers before the troops pass through the towns as to the billet?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I am sure I am not aware what is the proper course to be pursued; but, as I have said, the matter is one entirely in the hands of the local Police Authorities subject to the control of the local Court of Summary Jurisdiction.

MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN

As the Police gave notice to the publicans to provide fodder for the horses, and thereby caused them to incur expense, will the Military Authorities recompense the publicans in the matter?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I do not think the Military Authorities are responsible.

MR. AUSTIN

Who is responsible?

*MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I should think the Police.

MR. T. M. HEALY

I wish to ask whether, when people are put to expense of this kind, and when afterwards by favouritism the billeting is directed to other channels, some compensation should not be given? And I would further ask whether some provision should not be made in the Army Act to meet cases of this kind?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Of course, if the matter and the circumstances are explained to me, I will consider whether in another year any provision in the Army Act could provide against a case of this sort.

MR. AUSTIN

As there are nine batteries of artillery passing through this town——

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!