§ MR. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that boards of guardians all over the country are declining to issue tinned meat to inmates of our workhouses, he will reconsider his refusal to forbid any further issue of preserved food as Army rations to our soldiers in time of peace.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BUCHANAN, Perthshire, E.)Orders have been given to withhold all issues of American brands of preserved meat until the officer dispatched to America to inquire into their character has reported.
§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will permit tins of the preserved food issued to our soldiers from the store in reserve for war purposes, and which are several years old, to be placed in the tea-room of the House of Commons, and allow these tins to be opened so that hon. Members can see the character of the food that has been issued to the Army.
§ MR. BUCHANANAs I have already informed the hon. Member, the issue of American preserved meat is suspended pending the report of our officer, and the Secretary of State thinks it would not be desirable to have the exhibition of tins in the tea-room suggested by the hon. Member.
§ MR. LEAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any non-commissioned officers or men have been punished during the last three months for refusing to eat tinned meat served out as rations by the military authorities?
§ MR. BUCHANANI am not aware of any such case.