§ MR. FREDERICK WILSON (Norfolk, Mid.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the fact that out of 240,000 horses embarked for South Africa in the two years ending December 1901, only 50,000 were purchased in the United Kingdom; and if he can state whether the instructions to Government buyers and veterinaries were the same at home and abroad; and whether any reports have been received 1238 showing the duration of life and military value of horses from the United Kingdom and horses from other countries.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe actual numbers were 59,800. The instructions given to Government buyers and veterinaries were almost the same for home and abroad, but some contracts abroad were made at a fixed price, and in the case of home purchases a top price was set for certain classes of horses. It is very difficult to estimate the duration of life of these horses, as they have been worked under such dissimilar conditions. As regards military value, the reports tend to show that British and American horses have stood work better than those from other countries except South Africa.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONHas it not been computed that the average life of the total number of horses is about six weeks?
§ [No answer was returned.]