§ Take the question of remounts. Before the war broke out, remounts had to be bought at the rate of 2,500 a year. We have had, somehow, to discover how to extend that capacity to 150,000 a year. Of course there have been mistakes made. Of course, there have been hasty purchases. A hasty supply was necessary, and at one time it was better than no supply at all, and, of course, too high prices have been paid. But I think this House would have had something to say if, instead of too high prices being paid, the supplies had not been on the spot when they were required. May I ask the House to consider this point? It is universally admitted that the horses which we had at home and sent out for our own cavalry regiments were good and well selected, and stood their work well. The system of registration, which had been in force for ten years, provided us, by universal consent, in South Africa with the best artillery and transport horses that we could possibly want. The Remount Department was not sufficiently provided with an organisation to undertake this war; possibly not sufficient for a much less war; 371 but still the expansion in the circumstances was remarkable. In the first six months of 1900, 82,000 horses were landed in South Africa. In all, in not less than thirty months, 290,000 horses and 126,000 mules were sent out, and we purchased besides 120,000 horses locally in South Africa. That makes a total of 550.000 animals landed or purchased for the Army in thirty months, or an average of 600 per day throughout the whole period. I think it would be unreasonable to suppose that with so gigantic a transaction there should not have been failures and mistakes. I have put before the House the Reports from South Africa which I promised at the beginning of the session. From these Reports it will be gathered that we have not been altogether satisfied on this side of the water with the treatment which our remounts received when they arrived in South Africa. I have heard it stated in some quarters that the Government have shown a niggardly spirit in dealing with Lord Kitchener, in this respect. That I entirely deny. But we are, after all, trustees for the money which Parliament votes; and it is our business, not only to buy horses and supplies, but to see that they are fairly dealt with. I am bound to protest that some of Lord Kitchener's subordinates have hurried horses up country, without regard to the fact that they are just off a long voyage; and it is not due to us, or to the purchasers of the horses, that hundreds of them have died a few days after they have been landed. We are bound to see, in a war which has been going on for thirty months, and in order that it may be conducted with greater effect, that due regard is shown to the care of the animals themselves.