§ MR. JAMES BAILLIE (Inverness-shire)On behalf of the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Colonel RUSSELL), I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the very general complaints made of the ammunition supplied for the Lee-Metford rifle at Bisley; whether the Militia have also made similar complaints: and whether he has any reason to believe these complaints are well founded; and, if so, what steps the Government propose to take to remedy this most serious danger to our military efficiency?
§ * MR. BRODRICKComplaints have been received from Bisley of a certain number of hang-fires, but no such complaint has come from the Militia. No pains will be spared to discover the origin of these hang-fires and to prevent a recurrence of the defect; but it is satisfactory that except in respect of the ammunition supplied at Bisley, no complaints whatever have been received, although 303 ammunition has been fired by the Regulars throughout the year.
§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)Will the hon. Member inform the House from what firm or Government factory these useless cartridges were obtained?
§ * MR. BRODRICKThat subject is under investigation; we are endeavouring to see whether we can trace them.
SIR HENRY FLETCHER (Sussex, Lewes)asked whether the hon. Gentleman had received a report from the secretary to the National Rifle Association with regard to the defective cartridges alluded to in the Question, and also with regard to the Martini-Henry cartridges, which had likewise proved defective?
§ * MR. BRODRICKSuch a report has been received. The investigation will deal with both points.
§ MR J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)What was the age of the ammunition?
§ * MR. BRODRICKI cannot say; we are looking into the whole subject.