§ MR. BAINBRIDGE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the recent employment of inferior transport ships to the Cape (occupying nearly twice the time in the passage which would have been taken by the best passenger ships), the Government has arranged to secure the use of first class passenger vessels in future.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareI must respectfully protest against the preamble of the honourable Member's question. It conveys an impression quite contrary to fact. With regard to the question itself, I cannot undertake that only first class passenger ships shall be used in future. Such ships are naturally quite unsuited for horse transports, which constitute the majority of those now being taken up. But the hon. Member may rely on it that our best endeavours have been and will be used to place both infantry and cavalry as quickly at the Cape as we can.