§ MR. FREDERICK WILSON (Norfolkshire, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to Colonel Kitchener's Report on Remounts, stating that nothing has really come up to the English horse for cavalry 582 and draught, the War Office intends in future to buy a larger proportion of English horses: and whether, to facilitate sale and purchase, he will give a Return showing who are the authorised official buyers in each county, the class of animal required, and the price which will be paid for accepted horses, thereby encouraging farmers and breeders to sell direct to Government at full prices instead of getting a less rate through the middlemen.
LORD STANLEYThe success of English horses, which, I should mention, include a considerable proportion of horses imported from America, in South Africa, was due in a considerable degree to their hard condition, they being corn-fed. In normal times the horses required for the Army at home have been, with very few exceptions, purchased in England or Ireland. Purchase is being briskly carried on in these countries, and will be continued as long as suitable animals are procurable and required. I will consider whether it is possible to advertise more widely than at present the channels through which horses are purchased, and the conditions.