§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for War, Why does the adoption of a new field gun necessitate the expense of new wagons; also, why does the change to a quick-firer necessitate a change in harness; and what is the difference between the new pattern and the old pattern harness.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The introduction of fixed ammunition for the new field gun necessitates a different arrangement in the wagons for carrying it. The new wagons are made of bullet-proof steel to enable them to be placed near the guns inaction and to facilitate rapid supply. As regards harness the change has been already adopted for present equipments, and no further change is necessitated by the new gun. The new harness has breast collar instead of the neck collar used with the old pattern and is lighter. Parts of the old harness are retained in the new.