§ MR. BELLOC (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total number of firearms issued to natives in the course of the South African War; and what was the total number of firearms so issued which have, since the peace, been accounted for as returned.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The Secretary of State has made inquiry of the War Office upon this question, but the records kept by that Department during the Boer War do not appear to have been so extensive and precise upon this subject as upon other matters, and Lord Elgin has not been able to procure the information which the hon. Member desires.