HC Deb 22 September 1909 vol 11 cc416-7
Mr. HUNT

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that many complaints were made, both by officers and men as to the food, insufficiency of fuel for cooking, and scarcity of water at the camp of the Gordon Territorials at Aultmore this year, he will cause an inquiry to be made as to the reason for these complaints?

Mr. ACLAND

No complaints from this brigade in regard to food, fuel, or water have reached the War Office. I have already fully dealt with questions put by the hon. and gallant Member on the subject of food and water, and I do not propose to make any further inquiries.

Mr. HUNT

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the water was so short that many of the men had to shave with lemonade; and if things of that sort occur will it not have a very bad effect on recruiting?

Mr. ACLAND

I do not think so. The only source of information in this matter is the hon. Member. I think that if affairs had gone wrong seriously we should have heard of it from the men themselves or their officers.

Mr. HUNT

Will the hon. Gentleman not inquire in view of the fact that my information was straight from the camp itself?

Mr. ACLAND

The hon. Member will remember that I gave a long answer previously, and the matter is by no means so bad as he would have us understand.

Mr. HUNT

Does the hon. Gentleman understand that the reply was extremely unsatisfactory?

Mr. W. THORNE

Is it not the fact that if a man shaved with lemonade instead of water, the lemonade would take the edge off the razor?

Mr. ACLAND

I do not doubt it.