§ MR. MARKHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that shortly after the commencement of the war Captain Wynne Griffith was asked by the War Office to purchase remounts for its account in the Midlands at the Leicester, Crewe, and York repositories, and that he thus obtained the horses at cost price, whether he can explain why this practice of purchasing horses at the hammer was discontinued; and whether he is aware that agents of the German Government both before and during the war have regularly attended these sales, making purchases for the German Army; and whether in future he will follow the same practice as adopted by the German Government.
LORD STANLEYThis officer purchased horses, as stated, at Leicester, Crewe and York, but they proved unsatisfactory and such purchasing was discontinued at the two former places. I have no information as to the latter part of the Question.