§ MR. F. W. WILSON (Norfolk, Mid)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been called to the incompleteness of the Return just issued of rifle ranges closed in the Eastern District—for instance, Norwich closed for distances beyond 300 yards, Bury St. Edmunds entirely closed, Attleborough closed except for reduced charge ammunition; and whether he will obtain a full and and amended Return of ranges partially or entirely closed since the issue of the Lee-Metford rifle.
MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSThe Return is a complete Return of the ranges closed to full charge, firing with the authority of the War Office in the Eastern District since the introduction of the Lee-Metford rifle. The Norwich range was condemned as unsafe for the Martini-Henry, and has never been open for full charge Lee-Metford practice. The Bury St. Edmunds range was reported as unsuitable in 1891, and has never been included in the annual range returns. The Attleborough range is apparently a private range as to which no reports have been made to the War Office.