§ MR. ROBSON (South Shields)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the range accommodation allotted by the authorities 603 for the use of the eleven companies of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers consists of only four targets on the Government range at Whitley, which is eight miles by rail and about two miles by road from the battalion headquarters; that, as nearly all the men are unable to find time to go that distance for practice except on Saturday afternoons, this accommodation is insufficient to permit of the class firing being carried out carefully or effectively, and leaves little or no opportunity for additional practice or instruction; also that a public right-of-way exists across the range which delays the firing; and whether the Government will take steps to procure the diversion of the right-of-way, and to erect more targets on the range.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe number of targets on this range has recently been increased to eight, and it is expected that this enlarged range will be available during 1901 for this battalion for three afternoons a week, including Saturday. The difficulty caused by the right-of-way across the range is fully appreciated, and will be further considered.