§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somersetshire, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if his attention has been directed to the fact that while county councils have power to purchase land for rifle ranges they cannot hire land or spend their funds on erecting butts or screens or otherwise making ranges safe for shooting; and if he will consider the desirability of extending the provisions of the Military Lands Act so as to enable the local authorities to assist the Volunteer corps to procure ranges more effectually than they can do at present.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)A clause giving permission to county councils to erect butts or screens for the benefit of volunteer corps was originally contained in the Military Lands Bill, 1892, when introduced, but was opposed on the Second Reading and in Committee, and was dropped. The Secretary of State is considering whether 33 further legislation in this direction would be expedient.