MR. T. D. BOLTON (Derbyshire, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether it has been reported to the War Authorities that on the 15th April last a party of recruits of the 2nd Derby Volunteers were practising firing at their range at Staveley under the charge of an instructor, and that whilst practising a young married man, named Havenhand, aged 23 years, who was walking on the highway over 1,000 461 yards away from the said range and entirely out of the line of fire, was killed by a bullet from one of the rifles; whether the War Authorities have ascertained that Havenhand has left a widow and two young children, aged 13 months and 6 weeks respectively, totally unprovided for; whether the jury appended a rider to their verdict requesting the coroner to write to the War Office Authorities and express the hope that a solatium should be granted to the widow and children; whether the War Authorities are willing to accede to such request and give some solatium to the widow and children, in addition to the voluntary subscriptions which are being obtained from the public and volunteers; and, if not, why not; and whether any and what steps are being taken to protect the public lawfully using the highway from the dangers arising from the said range, when being used for rifle practice.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, Stirling Burghs)In this unfortunate case the man was passing along a road actually within the danger zone; though the corps were under the impression that a hill in the rear of the butts protected the road. Orders have been given that firing shall be stopped while passengers are traversing the exposed portion of this road. I am informed that the deceased left a widow and children as stated in the question; but I am not able to admit any liability on the part of the War Office, as the Volunteers were responsible for the use of their range, and there was no contributory negligence as regarded the War Department. Therefore no compassionate contribution can be made directly from public funds, although, perhaps, a contribution might be made out of the funds of the corps, which is supported by grants of public money.
MR. T. D. BOLTONasked whether the Government had not power to grant some solatium to a widow in a case of this kind. He understood there were some cases in which they had done so.
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know of any such cases. I am told it has never been admitted at all that there is any liability on the part of the War Office. It is the duty of 462 volunteer corps to provide themselves with ranges, and to be responsible for the safe using of them.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNE (Rochester)I should like to ask whether this range, like other ranges, was not inspected by an officer of the regular army under the authority of the War Office; whether he or some one on his behalf did not issue a regulation order under which this range was used; and whether, under these circumstances, liability does not attach to the War Office.
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not aware; but, as I read in the answer, the man was within what was known to be the danger zone, under the impression that a hill protected the road.
§ In answer to a further question,
§ * MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid, the range was certified, as all ranges are certified, as being safe, if the firing is properly conducted. In this case due precautions were not taken.