§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Major Peters who was sent out to Argentina by the War Office in connection with the purchase of horses was then an officer in the Remounts Department of the War Office; and, if so, what position did he then occupy in it; and whether he is aware that this officer's name appears as a shareholder in Houlders, which Company obtained contracts from the War Office for the transport of horses from Argentina to South Africa, in the register of the shareholders of that Company deposited at Somerset House.
§ MR. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a former remount officer, at one time high in the office of that Department, invested £1, 000 in two limited liability companies formed by a member of the firm of Houlder Brothers for the purpose of building the "Royston Grange" and the "Beacon Grange, "ships specially designed and employed for remount transport, and afterwards included in the Houlder Line; and whether he proposes to inquire into this matter.
LORD STANLEYMajor Peters was a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General in the Remount branch when selected to accompany the Purchasing Commission to Argentina. He occupied the position of Assistant Purchasing Officer. I am not aware of the matter alluded to in the last part of the Question put by the hon. Member for Northampton, but I am making inquiry. As regards the Question of the hon. Member for West Nottingham, 893 I have no information on this subject. The officer in question has been for the last two years in South Africa; but if the facts are as stated, he will be asked for an explanation.