§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Oldham)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can give the average cost per horse in freight for the carriage of horses from England to South Africa since the beginning of October, 1899, up to the end of May, 1900.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.In the few cases in which it has been possible to arrange for the conveyance of horses from this country to the Cape on freight, the cost has averaged £25 10s. per horse landed. Owing to the difference in the ships as to rate of hire, speed, consumption of coal, cost of fitting, the number of horses and men respectively which they carry, and the number of voyages which they make, it is impossible, without elaborate and lengthy calculations, to say what has been the average cost of conveying horses by transport, but it is believed it will closely approximate the ordinary charge of the Union Castle line for the passage of a horse to Cape Town—£35.