§ MR. SEALE-HAYNE (Devonshire, Ashburton)On behalf of the hon. Member for the South Molton Division of Devonshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is in a position to state the reason why, aftertwo years experience in the buying of horses for South Africa, Lord Kitchener had to complain on the 22nd January last that a considerable percentage of all horses landed lacked the compact formation necessary to withstand the hardships of campaigning, and that the Australian horses were specially badly selected; and whether he can state who was responsible for sending badly selected horses to South Africa.
§ MR. BRODRICKStringent orders have been issued from time to time as to the class of horses required, and every effort is made by the buyers on the spot, but from Lord Kitchener's report it would appear that the efforts to procure such horses in the great numbers required have not always succeeded. Every possible effort is being made in the matter.