§ MR. R. G. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether the boots now served out to troops are machine made; and if these boots, though slightly cheaper in cost in the first instance, are more quickly worn out, and less adapted for marching purposes than the hand-made boots previously served out to the troops?
§ * MR. BRODRICKOwing to the difficulty of obtaining hand-sewn boots fully up to standard in sufficient quantities for the requirements of the Army, it was decided some years ago to restrict the issue of hand-sewn infantry boots to regiments serving abroad. The machine-sewn boot issued at home is somewhat cheaper, but there is no reason to suppose it is less durable. It is, however, unquestionably stiff and heavy, and experiments are being made with the view of introducing a lighter and more flexible boot. The question of the shape of the boot will also be considered.